Understanding the Burden of Community-Acquired AKI: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis

Background: Community-acquired acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) is an often underdiagnosed but clinically significant condition. Its true incidence is unclear due to variations in diagnostic criteria across regions. Older age and comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension are major risk factors. Although less recognized than hospital-acquired AKI (HA-AKI), CA-AKI may be more common and is associated with similar or worse long-term outcomes, including chronic kidney disease progression, higher mortality, and increased cardiovascular risk. The under-recognition and lack of targeted treatment highlight the need for greater clinical awareness and research. Methods: We performed a retrospective study involving 94 patients who presented with CA-AKI at the emergency department. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed to identify factors influencing renal recovery. Descriptive statistics included frequencies for categorical data and means for continuous variables. The Shapiro-Wilk test assessed normality. Student’s t-test was used for normally distributed variables, while the Mann-Whitney U test was applied to non-parametric data. Categorical variables were analyzed using the Chi-square test. Results: Dehydration was the most common factor associated with CA-AKI, consistent with global evidence that highlights volume depletion as a key cause. Significantly higher initial levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were observed in CA-AKI patients. These findings support the clinical diagnosis and point to the importance of volume status in pathogenesis. Conclusion: Dehydration stands out as the leading cause of CA-AKI in our cohort, reinforcing the need for early detection and intervention. Elevated creatinine and BUN levels at admission further validate the diagnosis. Improving awareness among healthcare providers could lead to better outcomes through timely treatment.