Recurrent neonatal acute kidney injury: incidence, predictors, and outcomes in the neonatal intensive care unit

Objective Determine recurrent neonatal acute kidney injury (rAKI) incidence, risk factors, and associated outcomes. Study design Single-center retrospective cohort of neonates admitted to the NICU 1/1/20-6/30/21. Comparisons were made between those with no AKI, single AKI episode (sAKI), and rAKI. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to assess associations between rAKI and length of mechanical ventilation (LMV), length of hospitalization stay (LOS), mortality, and hypertension (HTN) at discharge. Results The incidence of AKI in the cohort of 869 infants was 19%: 705 (81%) no AKI, 100 (12%) sAKI, 64 (7%) rAKI. Both sAKI and rAKI were independently associated with longer LMV and LOS. sAKI was independently associated with almost 4x higher odds of mortality than rAKI. Conclusion In this single center cohort of neonates, sAKI independently predicts mortality, however rAKI is independently associated with increased LMV and LOS suggesting rAKI is clinically important and warrants further study.