[Risk factors and short-term prognosis of acute kidney injury in elderly patients].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the risk factors and short-term outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in elderly patients.

METHODS

A total of 232 elderly AKI patients at Chinese PLA General Hospital from June 2008 to December 2009 were enrolled. They were divided into two groups according to their outcomes at 28 days and at 29 days to 3 months after AKI respectively. Their clinical data were analyzed to explore the risk factors and their effects on the outcomes of AKI.

RESULTS

There were 215 males and 17 females with an average age of (86.7 ± 5.3) years. Thirty-eight cases (16.4%) died within 28 days after AKI and 57 (24.6%) died within 3 months. Infection (43.1%) was the major cause of AKI. The other causes included hypovolemia (19.0%), use of nephrotoxic drugs (16.8%) and cardiovascular events (15.1%) respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that low body mass index (BMI), oliguria, mechanical ventilation, hypoalbuminemia and peak serum level of creatinine (Scr >246.5 µmol/L) were the prognostic factors of AKI in those patients dying within 28 days after AKI (P < 0.05). Low BMI, hypoalbuminemia and high blood level of urea nitrogen (BUN) were the prognostic factors of AKI in those patients dying within 29 days to 3 months after AKI (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Infection, hypovolemia, use of nephrotoxic drugs and cardiovascular events are common causes of AKI in elderly patients.Low BMI, oliguria, mechanical ventilation, hypoalbuminemia, high level of BUN and peak level of Scr ( > 246.5 µmol/L) are the prognostic factors of AKI in elderly patients.