Wu B, et al. – This paper explored the long-term outcomes of Chinese patients with cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI). Results revealed that CSA-AKI increased the risk of 3-year mortality and incident CKD stages 3-5.

Methods

• This study included patients who underwent cardiac surgery with a median 3-year follow-up. 
• The long-term survival rate and the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) were recorded.
• Related risk factors were analyzed. 

Results

• Out of 1,363 patients, 457 (33.5%) developed CSA-AKI. 
• The AKI patients had a lower 3-year survival rate (88.8 vs. 97.2%, respectively, p < 0.001) and a higher incidence of CKD stages 3-5 (9.9 vs. 2.3%, respectively, p < 0.001) than the non-AKI patients. 
• Cox regression analysis showed that AKI, atrial fibrillation, chronic cardiac insufficiency, longer surgical duration, respiratory failure after surgery, and longer mechanical ventilation time were associated with long-term mortality, while AKI, older age, and lower baseline kidney function were associated with incident CKD stages 3-5.