Journals / Anatolian Journal of Emergency Medicine / 2026 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 1

Etiology and Clinical Outcomes of Acute Kidney Injury in the Emergency Department: A 10-Year Retrospective Cohort Study

Acil Serviste Akut Böbrek Hasarının Etiyolojisi ve Klinik Sonuçları: 10 Yıllık Retrospektif Kohort Çalışması

Pages
18–24
Publication Date
2026-03-29
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 18.0%.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and clinically critical condition encountered in emergency departments (EDs), yet long-term data on its etiological distribution and outcomes in ED populations remain limited.
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Key Findings & Data:This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and short-term outcomes of AKI cases presenting to a tertiary ED over a 10-year period.
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Conclusion & Impact:The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 18.0%.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2015 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Akut böbrek hasarı · acil servis · mortalite

Abstract

Aim: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and clinically critical condition encountered in emergency departments (EDs), yet long-term data on its etiological distribution and outcomes in ED populations remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and short-term outcomes of AKI cases presenting to a tertiary ED over a 10-year period. Material and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included adult patients diagnosed with AKI in the ED between January 2015 and January 2025. AKI was defined and staged according to KDIGO criteria. Demographics, comorbidities, laboratory findings, etiological factors, KDIGO stage distribution, need for intensive care, and in-hospital mortality were recorded. Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 742 patients were included (mean age 68.4 ± 15.7 years; 58.0% male). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 18.0%. Sepsis was the most common etiology (35.6%), followed by nephrotoxic drug exposure (27.6%) and dehydration or hypovolemia (21.8%). KDIGO Stage 3 accounted for 31.0% of cases and demonstrated significantly higher rates of ICU admission (37.8%) and mortality (39.5%). Non-survivors were significantly older and exhibited higher creatinine, urea, CRP, and potassium levels, as well as a higher prevalence of heart failure and chronic kidney disease (all p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, age (OR 1.04), sepsis (OR 3.62), KDIGO Stage 3 (OR 4.88), CRP (OR 1.08 per 10 mg/L), admission creatinine (OR 1.21), and ICU admission (OR 3.31) were independent predictors of mortality (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: Over a 10-year period, AKI cases presenting to the ED demonstrated substantial clinical severity, with sepsis emerging as the predominant etiology. Higher KDIGO stage, sepsis, systemic inflammation, and elevated initial creatinine levels were strongly associated with in-hospital mortality. These findings highlight the importance of early risk stratification and timely multidisciplinary management, including early nephrology consultation, in ED patients with AKI.

Özet

Amaç: Akut böbrek hasarı (ABH), acil servislerde sık karşılaşılan ve ciddi klinik sonuçlara yol açabilen kritik bir durumdur. Ancak acil servis başvurularına ilişkin etiyolojik dağılım ve klinik sonuçları değerlendiren uzun dönemli veriler sınırlıdır. Bu çalışma, üçüncü basamak bir acil servise başvuran ABH olgularının 10 yıllık epidemiyolojik, klinik ve prognostik özelliklerini incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu retrospektif kohort çalışmasına, Ocak 2015–Ocak 2025 arasında acil serviste ABH tanısı alan erişkin hastalar dahil edilmiştir. ABH tanımı ve evrelemesi KDIGO kriterlerine göre yapılmış; demografik özellikler, komorbiditeler, laboratuvar bulguları, etiyolojik faktörler, KDIGO evre dağılımı, yoğun bakım ihtiyacı ve hastane içi mortalite değerlendirilmiştir. Hastane içi mortalitenin bağımsız belirleyicileri çok değişkenli lojistik regresyon analizi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Toplam 742 hasta değerlendirilmiş olup ortalama yaş 68,4 ± 15,7 yıldır ve hastaların %58’i erkektir. Hastane içi mortalite oranı %18,0 olarak saptanmıştır. En sık etiyoloji sepsis (%35,6), ardından nefrotoksik ilaç maruziyeti (%27,6) ve dehidratasyon/hipovolemi (%21,8) olarak bulunmuştur. KDIGO Evre 3 olgular toplamın %31,0’ını oluşturmuş; yoğun bakım ihtiyacı (%37,8) ve mortalite (%39,5) açısından anlamlı derecede daha yüksek oranlar göstermiştir. Sağ kalmayan hastalar daha ileri yaşta olup kreatinin, üre, CRP ve potasyum seviyeleri belirgin şekilde yüksektir. Ayrıca kalp yetmezliği ve kronik böbrek hastalığı prevalansı daha fazladır (tüm p < 0,05). Çok değişkenli analizde yaş (OR 1,04), sepsis (OR 3,62), KDIGO Evre 3 (OR 4,88), CRP (OR 1,08 / 10 mg/L), başvuru kreatinini (OR 1,21) ve yoğun bakım ihtiyacı (OR 3,31) mortalitenin bağımsız belirleyicileri olarak bulunmuştur (tüm p < 0,001). Sonuç: On yıllık süreçte acil servise başvuran ABH hastaları belirgin klinik ciddiyet göstermiş olup en önemli etiyolojik faktör sepsis olarak öne çıkmıştır. Daha yüksek KDIGO evresi, sepsis, sistemik inflamasyon belirteçleri ve yüksek başlangıç kreatinin düzeyleri hastane içi mortaliteyle güçlü ilişkili bulunmuştur. Bulgular, ABH’li hastalarda acil serviste erken risk sınıflandırmasının, erken nefroloji danışmanlığının ve hızlı multidisipliner yaklaşımın önemini vurgulamaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Onec, K., Demir, M. C. (2026). Etiology and Clinical Outcomes of Acute Kidney Injury in the Emergency Department: A 10-Year Retrospective Cohort Study. Anatolian Journal of Emergency Medicine, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 1, 18–24. https://doi.org/10.54996/anatolianjem.1829578

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