Determining the Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury Using the RIFLE Criteria in the Medical Intensive Care Unit in a Tertiary Care Hospital Setting in Pakistan

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequently encountered clinical condition in hospitalized patients, particularly those admitted to intensive care units (ICU). AKI has its systemic sequelae and contributes to the morbidity of underlying diseases. Methods This descriptive case series aimed to determine the frequency of acute kidney injury in critically ill patients admitted to the ICU at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, according to the RIFLE (risk, injury, failure, loss, and end-stage) criteria. A total of 124 patients were enrolled in this study. RIFLE criteria were applied to determine the frequency of AKI in critically ill patients. Results The frequency of AKI was 68.55% and mortality was 18.55%. The severity of AKI was found to be significantly associated with mortality (p < 0.001). Conclusion AKI is very common in critically ill patients and contributes to the mortality and morbidity of the patients. Early identification of AKI can reduce mortality in critically ill patients.