Abstract

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common health problem among critically ill patients with a growing prevalence and variable causes. AKI outcome is still unknown worldwide and especially in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to determine short-term outcomes among Saudi patients with AKI.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Medical records of adult patients who developed AKI at the KAUH intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2019 to December 2021 were reviewed. AKI was diagnosed according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes.
Results: A total of 444 medical records were reviewed and AKI was diagnosed in 173 patients (38.9%). The most common causes of AKI were sepsis (44.5%), COVID-19 (31.2%), and hypotension (23%). Over half of the patients’ comorbidities in the current study was hypertension. The median length of stay in the ICU and hospital was 6.31 (2.52-16.93) and 16 (6.06-28.92) days, respectively. The death rate among AKI patients was 89%. Renal replacement therapy was required for 40.5%.
Conclusion: AKI was found in 38.9% of all adults admitted to KAUH ICU. The epidemiology and causes of AKI were similar to other studies in the literature. Mortality and length of stay were highly associated with AKI.

Key words: Outcome, AKI, ICU, retrospective, Jeddah, Saudi.