Acute Kidney Injury during Coronavirus Disease in Togo

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently reported in the context of coronavirus infection. The incidence of AKI, particularly in patients hospitalized in intensive care units, is high. The aim was to study the associated factors to mortality in acute kidney injury (AKI) during COVID-19 in Togo. Method: This was a cross-sectional analytical study with retrospective data collection. It involved all patients hospitalized at CHR-LC from March 2020 to August 2021 suffering from COVID-19 who presented an AKI. Results: We identified 113 cases of acute kidney injury according to the predefined criteria. The prevalence of AKI during COVID-19 was 3.90%. Subjects over 65 years of age were the most represented. The age extremes were 17 and 85 years. The sex ratio (M/F) was 2.89. The main factors significantly associated with the severity of acute kidney injury were diabetes, asthma, HIV infection, and stroke. There was a correlation between the degree of acute kidney failure and severity on admission. Patients with AKI severity 2 and 3 were on hemodialysis. There was a statistically significant correlation between intra-hospital mortality and the severity of acute kidney injury (p = 0.04). The intra-hospital mortality rate was 23%. Conclusion: Acute kidney injury (AKI) during COVID-19 is a real concern for clinicians. Its medical care involves a multidisciplinary team. Particular emphasis should therefore be placed on the management of comorbidities and preventive nephroprotection measures.