Care of the Acute Kidney Injury Survivor

Abstract

While the short-term implications of acute kidney injury (AKI) have been known for many years, far less attention has been paid to the health of AKI survivors. This was perhaps fueled by a prevailing wisdom that if a patient was fortunate enough to survive the primary illness associated with AKI, the prognosis for future health was auspicious. More recently, this dogma was challenged by data suggesting that after an episode of AKI, patients remain at risk of experiencing multiple adverse health outcomes. Greater recognition and appreciation of the risks faced by AKI survivors have led to the development of quality improvement initiatives that are supposed to enrich this vulnerable population.