Abstract Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical condition with high morbidity and mortality. This research aims to assess depression, anxiety, cognitive function, and quality of life (QoL) in patients recovered from AKI and examine their association with recovery status and clinical outcomes. Methods This prospective cohort study included 53 AKI patients and 53 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Psychiatric assessments included the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Cognitive function was evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and health-related QoL with the SF-36 questionnaire. Assessments were performed at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Results AKI patients demonstrated significantly elevated HARS, HAM-D, and GAD-7 scores than controls at baseline, 3, and 6 months (all p < 0.001), with progressive worsening during follow-up. QoL scores were significantly diminished in AKI patients as opposed to controls at all time points (baseline: 61.6 ± 6.2 vs. 72.7 ± 8.5; 6 months: 48.3 ± 5.3 vs. 77.4 ± 6.7; p < 0.001). MoCA scores were also reduced in AKI patients (19.1 ± 3.8 vs. 21.1 ± 4.0; p = 0.013). Anxiety and depression correlated with ICU stay, number of dialysis sessions, and serum creatinine, while QoL inversely correlated with age ( r =-0.40, p = 0.003). Patients with incomplete recovery or dialysis dependence had significantly elevated anxiety and depression scores. Conclusions AKI survivors experience persistent psychological distress, cognitive impairment, and reduced QoL, particularly in those with incomplete renal recovery. Early psychiatric assessment and targeted interventions should be integrated into post-AKI care.
Mostafa et al. (2025) studied this question.