Risk factors for acute kidney injury in a pediatric intensive care unit: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND

The incidence of acute kidney injury in the pediatric population and its associated risk factors are currently not clear.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the study was to assess the incidence of acute kidney injury in critically ill pediatric patients and to determine its associated risk factors.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of pediatric patients (<14 years old) admitted to a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was classified using the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes definition KDIGO.

RESULTS

A total number of 382 patients were assessed: acute kidney injury was found in 11.5% of them (incidence rate 0.99 persons-day). The following parameters analyzed with multivariate regression analysis were associated with acute kidney injury: low platelet count (R = 2.947; 95% CI= 1.276-6.805) and the need of vasopressor support (OR= 4.601; 95% CI= 1.665-12.710). Children with acute kidney injury had an increased length of stay in the hospital and an increased mortality compared with patients with no kidney injury (19 days vs. 5 days and 3.7/person-day vs. 0.32/person-day).

CONCLUSIONS

Acute kidney injury is common among critically ill children and it is associated with adverse outcomes, including increased length of stay in the hospital and death. Low platelet count and vasopressor support were independently associated with the development of acute kidney injury in this population.