Back
AKI is common complication among COVID19 patients. Patients with AKI have higher mortality and morbidity than those without AKI. COVID19 patients with AKI have higher risk of developing acute kidney disease and chronic kidney disease. Inflammation caused by COVID19 is one of the most important pathway for AKI. This study aims at correlating the inflammatory marker level and outcome of AKI in patients with COVID19.
This cross sectional observational study was conducted at care hospitals, Hyderabad, India from July 2021 to June 2022. Total 101 laboratory confirmed COVID19 patients with AKI were included in study. Inflammatory markers of COVID19 (IL6, CRP, D-DIMER, ferritin) were correlated with AKI severity and its outcome such as need for dialysis, renal function recovery and mortality. Independent t test, One way ANOVA test and Chi square test were used for statistical analysis.
Out of 101 patients stage 1, stage 2 and stage 3 AKI was found in 16, 30 and 55 patients respectively. IL6, CRP, D-dimer and ferritin levels were significantly related with severity of AKI (P 0.001). Mortality of the study population was 46.5%. Severity of AKI was significantly associated with mortality (P 0.001). Severity of AKI negatively impacted renal function recovery (P < 0.001). Renal replacement therapy was needed in 24.8% patients.
Higher levels of IL6, CRP and ferritin were associated with higher mortality (P <0.001).
AKI severity is related to level of inflammation caused by COVID19. Higher inflammation correlates with more severe AKI, higher mortality, higher need for renal replacement therapy and lesser likelihood of renal function recovery. Thus these inflammatory markers can be used as surrogate markers for predicting AKI severity and its outcome.