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Acute kidney injury (AKI) represents a worldwide public health problem with an incidence of 2-18% of hospitalized patients; whose impact reflects the increased recognition of this diagnosis; patient aging and increased risk due to comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, lung disease, sepsis and surgery) and exposure to nephrotoxic drugs, in addition to being an important factor contributing to mortality. For the year 2018, Only 10 Latin American countries had publications on AKI, within which Venezuela was not found. Publications on AKI in the countries of the region differ significantly according to the level of access to the health system, which could possibly have an impact on the outcomes of AKI.
Retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional, field, non-experimental study. The sample consisted of 221 patients who met the inclusion criteria (patients of both sexes over 18 years of age, with a diagnosis of AKI who are evaluated by the Nephrology service).
It was observed that 50.2% (n=111) were female and 17.2% (n=38) had an age range between 48-57 years with a mean of 49.17 years, with no statistically significant differences between the different age and sex ranges. The most frequently found causes of AKI were malaria, sepsis, dehydration and cardiorenal syndrome, with 32.6% (n=72); 23.1% (n=51); 14.9% (n=33) and 14.5% (n=32), respectively. 51.6% (n=114) presented AKI of renal type. Comorbidities were associated in only 49.8% (n=110) of patients, with arterial hypertension (AHT) being the most frequent with 52.7% (n=58). Renal replacement therapy was necessary in 22.6% (n=50) of cases.
AKI in the locality under study occurred equally in both sexes, without a predominant age range; Malaria as an endemic disease of the geographical area in reference stands out as the main cause of AKI in the “Ruiz y Paez” University Hospital Complex; without leaving aside the impact of dehydration and sepsis; as well as AHT as a linked comorbid factor and the increased requirement of renal replacement therapy.