Acute kidney injury – a severe complication secondary to COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed the biggest challenge to the global health system. Kidney damage is common in COVID-19 and ranges from mild proteinuria to severe acute kidney injury. Objective. The aim of the study was to establish the dynamics of COVID-19 in patients who develop acute kidney injury and to identify risk factors for developing acute kidney injury associated with COVID-19. Materials and methods. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted, including 40 patients of both sexes, aged between 37 and 88 years, who were admitted to the intensive care unit of the Timofei Moșneaga Republican Clinical Hospital during the period 2020-2022. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student’s t-test. Results. The most common factors identified as determinants were advanced age, comorbidities, mechanical ventilation, and nephrotoxic drugs. The presence of proteinuria, hematuria, and leukocyturia was identified. Urea and creatinine levels were elevated on admission and continued to rise; 10% of patients required renal replacement therapy. It was observed that the greater the degree of lung damage, the earlier mechanical ventilation was instituted, which could lead to the development of early acute kidney injury. All patients were mechanically ventilated and developed acute kidney injury, contributing to a severe course of COVID-19. Conclusions. Acute kidney injury is one of the most frequent and severe complications encountered among mechanically ventilated patients with severe forms COVID-19 and is often associated with a fulminant course and a high mortality rate.