AKI in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19
Authors: Chan Lili , Chaudhary Kumardeep , Saha Aparna , Chauhan Kinsuk , Vaid Akhil , Zhao Shan , Paranjpe Ishan , Somani Sulaiman , Richter Felix , Miotto Riccardo , Lala Anuradha , Kia Arash , Timsina Prem , Li Li , Freeman Robert , Chen Rong , Narula Jagat , Just Allan C. , Horowitz Carol , Fayad Zahi , Cordon-Cardo Carlos , Schadt Eric , Levin Matthew A. , Reich David L. , Fuster Valentin , Murphy Barbara , He John C. , Charney Alexander W. , Böttinger Erwin P. , Glicksberg Benjamin S. , Coca Steven G. , Nadkarni Girish N. ,   on behalf of the Mount Sinai COVID Informatics Center (MSCIC)
Published: September 2020

Significance Statement

Early reports have indicated that AKI and other kidney abnormalities are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Of 3993 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in a New York City health system, AKI occurred in 1835 (46%) patients; among patients with AKI, 19% required dialysis, and half of them died in the hospital. Among patients who were discharged, 35% had not recovered to baseline kidney function at the time of discharge. AKI is common among patients with COVID-19 and is associated with higher mortality than in patients without AKI; among those who survive, only about a third are discharged with renal recovery. These findings may help centers with resource planning and preparing for the increased load resulting from survivors of COVID-19–associated AKI who do not experience recovery of kidney function.

Background

Early reports indicate that AKI is common among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and associated with worse outcomes. However, AKI among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in the United States is not well described.

Methods

This retrospective, observational study involved a review of data from electronic health records of patients aged ≥18 years with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to the Mount Sinai Health System from February 27 to May 30, 2020. We describe the frequency of AKI and dialysis requirement, AKI recovery, and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with mortality.

Results

Of 3993 hospitalized patients with COVID-19, AKI occurred in 1835 (46%) patients; 347 (19%) of the patients with AKI required dialysis. The proportions with stages 1, 2, or 3 AKI were 39%, 19%, and 42%, respectively. A total of 976 (24%) patients were admitted to intensive care, and 745 (76%) experienced AKI. Of the 435 patients with AKI and urine studies, 84% had proteinuria, 81% had hematuria, and 60% had leukocyturia. Independent predictors of severe AKI were CKD, men, and higher serum potassium at admission. In-hospital mortality was 50% among patients with AKI versus 8% among those without AKI (aOR, 9.2; 95% confidence interval, 7.5 to 11.3). Of survivors with AKI who were discharged, 35% had not recovered to baseline kidney function by the time of discharge. An additional 28 of 77 (36%) patients who had not recovered kidney function at discharge did so on posthospital follow-up.

Conclusions

AKI is common among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and is associated with high mortality. Of all patients with AKI, only 30% survived with recovery of kidney function by the time of discharge.