Abstract
Introduction: The incidence of fragility fractures is rising with increased life expectancies. Most hip fractures require surgery. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a preventable clinical syndrome that raises the risk of mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of AKI in hip fracture patients.
Methods: Data relevant to reported risk factors for developing AKI were collected before and after surgery within hip fracture patients in 2020. This included serum blood tests, anthropometric data, surgical factors and length of inpatient hospital stay.
Results: A total of 190 patients were included in this study. The pre-operative prevalence of AKI was 2.1%. The post-operative prevalence of AKI was 19.8%. The overall prevalence of AKI was 21.6%. Higher weight (p=0.046), increased length of hospital stay (p<0.001) and route of admission (p=0.046) significantly increased post-operative AKI. Mortality rate was significantly higher (p=0.002) in patients who developed AKI (59.5%) compared to non-AKI patients (29.8%).
Conclusion: Approximately one-fifth of all patients presenting with hip fractures in this study developed AKI peri-operatively, significantly increasing mortality rate. Obesity, inpatient hip fractures and longer hospital stay pose the highest risk of post-operative AKI. Close monitoring, early diagnosis and treatment are important for this vulnerable patient group.