A clarion call for follow-up of acute kidney injury survivors: perspective from a developing country.

Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with long term adverse renal outcomes. Since AKI is a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD), follow up of AKI survivors assumes significance. Currently, follow up rates of AKI survivors are poor. Universally acceptable definition for AKI recovery is lacking. The epidemiology and clinical profile of AKI are different in developing countrieswhere patients are often referred lateto healthcare facilities and initiation of renal replacement therapy is often delayed. Recently, proposals for defining AKI recovery and indications forAKI follow-up care have been published; while interesting, these suggestions are complex, and difficult to follow. Developing countries require simple definitions of AKI recovery and manageablefollow-up care models, thatcould be applicable in scarcelyresourced healthcare settings.