Risk factors for acute kidney injury in newborns hospitalized at Jos University Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: In critically ill newborns, the risk factors for developing Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) vary widely and multifactorial; it involves several potential exposures including nephrotoxic medications, sepsis, hypotension and adverse perinatal events such as asphyxia.We sought to identify the risk factors for AKI, and to determine the relative risks for AKI in sick newborns hospitalized at the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
Methods: This was a prospective cohort study conducted among 150 sick newborns recruited consecutively at the SCBU of JUTH. Changes in serum creatinines and estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) of the babies were used to identify babies with AKI. Risk factors associated with AKI were identified using Chi-square.
Result: The prevalence of AKI in the study population was F) 2 14.7%, sepsis (0.001 and dehydration (X =15.084; p= 0.001) were found to be significantly associated with AKI. Those with sepsis and dehydration were 5 times each more likely to develop AKI than those without it, and both were statistically significant. Sepsis (RR= 4.9, 95% CI=1.72-13.72), dehydration (RR= 4.7, 95% CI= 2.33-8.63).
Conclusion: Sepsis and dehydration are risk factors associated with development of AKI.