Epidemiology of Acute Kidney Injury in Africa

Summary 

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a challenging problem in Africa because of the burden of disease (especially human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]-related AKI in sub-Saharan Africa, diarrheal disease, malaria, and nephrotoxins), late presentation of patients to health care facilities, and the lack of resources to support patients with established AKI in many countries. The pattern of AKI is vastly different from that in more developed countries. There are no reliable statistics about the incidence of AKI in Africa. Infections (malaria, HIV, diarrheal diseases, and others), nephrotoxins, and obstetric and surgical complications are the major etiologies in Africa. AKI in hospitalized antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive HIV-1–infected patients is associated with a 6-fold higher risk of in-hospital mortality. The most common risk factors are severe immunosuppression (CD4 count, <200 cells/mm³) and opportunistic infection. The most common causes are acute tubular necrosis and thrombotic microangiopathy. In the post-ART era, HIV-1–infected patients with AKI still have an increased risk of in-hospital mortality and these episodes of AKI seem more frequent in the first year of ART. Subsequently, survival is comparable in those with and without HIV infection. More resources are required to prevent AKI and to provide renal support for those patients requiring dialytic therapy.

Keywords: Acute kidney injury, Africa, developing countries, nephrotoxins