Social determinants of health may increase kidney failure risk after critical illness

New research indicates that certain individual- and neighborhood-level social determinants of health may increase the risk of developing post-discharge kidney failure in patients who developed acute kidney injury while in intensive care. The findings will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2026 October 22–25.

For the study, investigators examined 2012–2022 data on 30,498 adults who experienced acute kidney injury while in the intensive care unit at a major US academic medical center and who survived to hospital discharge. Patients were followed for up to 2 years using the hospital electronic health record and the US Renal Data System.

During follow-up 2,723 (9%) patients died and 326 (1%) developed kidney failure. After adjustments, Black race was associated with a 43% higher kidney failure risk compared with white race, whereas having health insurance coverage was associated with a 40% lower risk. Neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage was also independently associated with an increased risk of kidney failure, with higher risks observed among residents of moderately and highly deprived neighborhoods.

Dilaram Acharya, MPH, PhD, first author, University of Alabama at BirminghamStandardized assessment of social determinants of health in clinical practice may improve risk stratification of kidney failure and identify acute kidney injury survivors most likely to benefit from post-discharge interventions."

"Implementation studies of best practices to promote kidney health in vulnerable populations are needed," added corresponding senior author Javier Neyra, MD, MSCS also of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Study: "Association of Social Determinants of Health with Risk of ESKD Among Survivors of Critical Illness and AKI"

Source:

American Society of Nephrology