Aetiological Spectrum of Acute Renal Failure in Kumaon Region of Uttarakhand

Background: Acute renal failure (ARF) or acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical condition in which rapid decline in glomerular filtration rate over an hour to days. It is an important clinical condition and common cause of mortality in hospitalized patients. Aims: To analyze the aetiological spectrum and outcome of ARF in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand and to compare data with that of other parts of country. Settings and Design: Hospital based observational analytic study. Methods: This study was conducted on patients admitted to Government Medical College & associated Dr. Susheela Tiwari Memorial Hospital Haldwani from November 2011 to October 2012 with ARF irrespective of the cause. ARF was defined according to AKIN criteria. Statistical analysis used: Statistical analysis of data was performed using SPSS V.20.0 (Windows). All data was summarized and expressed as mean ± SD or as percentages as appropriate. The chi square test was used to analyze categorical variables while the student T-test used to analyze normally distributed data. Statistical significance was accepted at p<0.05. Results: Out of 100 patients, 77% had community acquired ARF and 23% had hospital acquired ARF. Medical causes were leading contributors (68%), while surgical causes in 20% and obstetrical causes in 12% of patients. 36% patients required hemodialysis. The overall mortality was 21%, and highest mortality was found in celphos poisoning group (100%). Conclusion: ARF is still common in the community and is associated with high mortality. Aetiologies like acute gastroenteritis, septicaemia, snakebite and malaria were the leading cause of ARF in our study.