Abstract:
Background: The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in intensive care units has risen over
the past decade, affecting an estimated 13 million people annually and leading to 1.7 million
deaths worldwide. Despite its significant impact, no prior study has been conducted in the study
area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the treatment outcomes of AKI and its associated
factors among patients admitted to the intensive care unit of Hiwot Fana Comprehensive
Specialized Hospital, Eastern Ethiopia
Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 308 ICU patients with
acute kidney injury at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Eastern Ethiopia.
Medical records from September 1, 2019, to August 30, 2023, were reviewed. Multivariable
logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with poor outcomes, reported as
adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 were
considered statistically significant.
Results: A total of 308 patient records were reviewed. Of these, 181 (58.2%) were male, and 160
(51.9%) were aged 40–65 years (mean age: 44.5 ± 14.6). Poor treatment outcomes occurred in
58.1% (95% CI: 52.4–63.7). Factors significantly associated with poor outcomes included urban
residence (AOR=2.22; 95% CI: 1.16–4.25), central intensive care unit admission (AOR=2.70;
95% CI: 1.41–5.19), oliguria (AOR=3.26; 95% CI: 1.76–6.04), stage III acute kidney injury
(AOR=15.8; 95% CI: 1.56–159.6), and need for renal replacement therapy (AOR=11.6; 95% CI:
3.41–39.6).
Conclusion: The study revealed that over half of ICU patients with acute kidney injury
experienced poor treatment outcomes (58.1%). Significant predictors included urban residence,
ICU admission, oliguria, stage III AKI, and need for renal replacement therapy. These findings
highlight the urgent need for early detection and timely interventions to improve patient survival.
