Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a life-threatening condition, especially in extreme age groups and when kidney replacement therapy (KRT) is necessary. Studies worldwide report mortality rates of 10-63% in pediatric patients undergoing KRT.
Methods: Over 13 years, this multicenter study analyzed data from 693 patients with AKI, all receiving KRT, across 74 hospitals and medical facilities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Results: The majority were male (59.5%), under one year old (55.6%), and treated in private hospitals (76.5%). Sixty-six percent had comorbidities. Pneumonia and congenital heart disease were the most common admission diagnoses (21.5% and 20.2%, respectively). The mortality rate was 65.2%, with lower rates in patients over 12 years (50%). Older age was protective (HR: 2.35, IQR [1.52-3.62] for neonates), and primary kidney disease had a three-fold lower mortality rate. ICU team experience (HR: 0.74, IQR [0.60-0.91]) correlated with lower mortality, particularly in hospitals treating 20 or more patients. Among the deceased, 40% died within 48 h of KRT initiation, suggesting possible late referral or treatment futility.
Conclusions: This study confirms the high mortality in pediatric dialytic AKI in middle-income countries, underlining early mortality and offering critical insights for improving outcomes.
Keywords: Acute kidney injury; Epidemiological study; Healthcare disparities; Kidney replacement therapy; Middle-income country; Pediatric nephrology.
© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Pediatric Nephrology Association.