ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY IN PATIENTS WITH CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID 19): PERSPECTIVES FROM PAKISTAN

Kidney involvement in patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) can have variable presentations and clinical courses. Consequently, COVID 19 related Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) can increase the morbidity and mortality of these patients who are at increased risk of death consequent to non-renal organ involvement. Objectives: The present study aims to describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with COVID-19 who have AKI during the course of their illness. Study Design: This was a retrospective review of data collected at four hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan from May 1, 2020, to June 30, 2020. A total of 445 patients were reviewed and analyzed. Patients designated as having AKI at admission, those who received Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT), and those patients with a history of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with superimposed AKI were included in the retrospective review. Results: Out of 445 patients, 57 (12.8%) patients developed AKI.  The presence of AKI correlated significantly with history of diabetes, CKD, septic shock and need for invasive positive pressure ventilation. RRT showed a moderate correlation with death. D-dimers levels at presentation, presence of diabetes and septic shock also predicted death. Conclusion: The incidence of AKI in COVID-19 patients reported from Pakistan aligns with global figures, with the need for renal replacement therapy serving as a prognostic marker for mortality in AKI cases.