Recovery Dynamics and Prognosis After Dialysis for Acute Kidney Injury

Importance The interplay among baseline kidney function, severity of acute kidney disease (AKD), and post-AKD kidney function has significant associations with patient outcomes. However, a comprehensive understanding of how these factors are collectively associated with mortality, major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in patients with dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury (AKI-D) is yet to be fully explored. Objective To investigate the associations of baseline kidney function, AKD severity, and post-AKD kidney function with mortality, MACEs, and ESKD in patients with AKI-D. Design, Setting, and Participants This nationwide, population-based cohort study of patients with AKI-D was conducted between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2018, using data from various health care settings included in the Taiwan nationwide population-based cohort database. Data analysis was conducted from April 28, 2022, to June 30, 2023. Exposure Exposure to severe AKI and baseline and post-AKD kidney function. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and incident MACEs, and secondary outcomes were risks of permanent dialysis and readmission. Results A total of 6703 of 22 232 patients (mean SD age, 68.0 14.7 years; 3846 57.4% male) with AKI-D with post-AKD kidney function follow-up and AKD stage data were enrolled. During a mean (SD) 1.2 (0.9) years of follow-up, the all-cause mortality rate was 28.3% (n = 1899), while the incidence rates of MACEs and ESKD were 11.1% (n = 746) and 16.7% (n = 1119), respectively. After adjusting for known covariates, both post-AKD kidney function and baseline kidney function, but not AKD severity, were independently associated with all-cause mortality, MACEs, ESKD, and readmission. Moreover, worse post-AKD kidney function correlated with progressive and significant increases in the risk of adverse outcomes. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of patients with AKI-D, more than one-quarter of patients died after 1.2 years of follow-up. Baseline and post-AKD kidney functions serve as important factors associated with the long-term prognosis of patients with AKI-D. Therefore, concerted efforts to understand the transition from post-AKD to chronic kidney disease are crucial.