News: AKI occurring in 15% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients

According to the National Kidney Foundation, acute kidney injury (AKI) is occurring in about 15% of all hospitalized COVID-19 patients, many of whom end up needing dialysis. Reports also indicate that over 20% of intensive-care patients admitted for COVID-19 have lost all kidney function.

“Hospitals weren’t prepared for this,” the National Kidney Foundation said, “causing shortages in some hot spots of dialysis equipment, supplies and nurses properly trained to administer dialysis in the intensive care unit (ICU).” These COVID-19 patients had no previous history of kidney disease prior to the virus, and now face not only AKI, but an increased risk for developing future chronic kidney disease.

With such an increased risk of developing AKI, one would think Americans would be aware of this COVID-19 related condition. However, a National Kidney Foundation-Harris Poll Survey on COVID-19 and Kidney Health found that only 17% of Americans are aware AKI is a result of COVID-19. This is considerably less than the 58% awareness of acute respiratory failure, 54% awareness of pneumonia, and 52% awareness of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Similarly, only 16% were aware COVID-19 can result in septic shock, and 15% were aware of acute liver injury.

According to the survey, 65% of respondents are concerned over potential shortages of dialysis machines from COVID-19. Still this concern is less than concerns for other healthcare shortages, such as healthcare workers (83%), surgical masks and gloves (80%), COVID-19 testing kits (80%), ventilators (77%), and hospital beds (74%).

Editor’s note: The National Kidney Foundation information on COVID-19 and AKI can be found here. To read more about other COVID-19 comorbid conditions, click here.