Anemia as a risk factor of contrast-associated acute kidney injury

Aim. The aim of our study was to assess the role of anemia as a risk factor of contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Materials and methods. 1023 patients with chronic coronary artery disease were enrolled in a prospective, open, cohort study (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04014153). 83 patients had anemia. CA-AKI was defined as an increase of 25% or more, or an absolute increase of 0.5 mg/dl or more in serum creatinine from baseline value, assessed at 48 hours following the administration of the contrast. The primary endpoint of the study was the development of CA-AKI according to KDIGO criteria.

Results. CA-AKI developed in 12 (14.5%) patients with anemia according to the relative increase of the level of serum creatinine (25% and more from the baseline). With using the absolute increase of the level of serum creatinine the prevalence of CA-AKI was 2 (2.4%) patients. Patients with anemia had higher rate of CA-AKI than the overall population of the study (14.4% versus 12.7%). Although our results were not statistically significant (р=0.61, odds ratio 1.19, 95% confidence interval 0.63–2.24).

Conclusion. The prevalence of CA-AKI was higher in the group of patients with anemia, but didn’t meet statistical significance and needs further evaluation in larger studies.