title: The epidemiology and outcome of acute renal failure and the impact on chronic kidney disease.
abstract: Acute renal failure (ARF) is a common condition, especially among the critically ill, and confers a high mortality. Recent publications have highlighted changes in the epidemiology and improvement in mortality that was long thought to be static despite improvements in clinical care. The incidence of ARF is increasing. Efforts, such as the Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative, are being undertaken to establish a consensus definition of ARF, and to distinguish between varying degrees of acute kidney injury. Data are emerging to allow comparison of the epidemiology of ARF across institutions internationally. There is ongoing recognition of the important interaction between ARF and chronic kidney disease. Two brief case reports are offered to help frame the context and clinical impact of this disorder, followed by a review of some of the recent literature that addresses these points.
authors.affiliation: Section of Nephrology and Hypertension, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03576, USA. clay.a.block@hitchcock.org
authors.forename: Clay A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Block
authors.forename: Anton C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Schoolwerth
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016638:Critical Illness; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017582:Renal Replacement Therapy; D013997:Time Factors