Risk for Significant Kidney Function Decline After Acute Kidney Injury in Adults With Hematologic Malignancy

INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury (AKI) affects 30% of adults hospitalized with hematologic malignancy. Little is known about the long-term impact on kidney outcomes in this population despite the close relationship between kidney function and malignancy treatment eligibility. The purpose of this population-based cohort study was to determine the effect of AKI on kidney function in the year following a new diagnosis of acute leukemia or lymphoma. METHODS: Participants were adults hospitalized within 3 weeks of malignancy diagnosis. Baseline kidney function was determined and AKI diagnosed using standardized criteria. Cox proportional hazard modeling examined the relationship between AKI and a ≥30% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from baseline in the 1 year following hospitalization as the primary endpoint. RESULTS: AKI occurred in 33% of 1064 participants, with 70% of episodes occurring within 48 hours of hospitalization, and significantly increased risk for a ≥ 30% decline in eGFR (hazard ratio [HR] 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2–3.5) and incident chronic kidney disease (HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.7–2.8). AKI remained a significant predictor of eGFR decline in subgroup and multivariable analyses (adjusted HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4–2.7). A ≥ 30% decline in eGFR increased the risk for death within 1 year in participants with AKI (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.3). CONCLUSION: Results aid in identifying individuals at highest risk for poor outcomes and highlight the need for research involving interventions that preserve kidney function from the time of initial hospitalization with a hematologic malignancy into the postdischarge period.