Electrolyte imbalances and metabolic acidosis are highly prevalent complications in Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and are directly linked to adverse patient outcomes, including death and a greater need for intensive care. The study emphasizes that early identification and aggressive management of these metabolic issues are crucial steps for improving the prognosis of patients with AKI.

The study revealed a clear correlation between these disturbances and worsening clinical outcomes. Patients with electrolyte imbalances and/or metabolic acidosis experienced:

• Higher rates of ICU admission (32% vs. 15%)
• Higher need for dialysis (29% vs. 10%)
• Significantly higher in-hospital mortality (28% vs. 12%)
• Longer hospital stays (12.4 days vs. 9.1 days)

The prevalence of these disturbances increased directly with AKI severity, with Stage 3 patients showing the highest rates. Sepsis and diabetes were identified as common comorbidities associated with the imbalances.

Logistic regression confirmed that advanced AKI stages and sepsis were the strongest independent predictors of hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis.

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