Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical medical condition often superimposed on other serious illnesses, usually occurring in patients managed in a hospital setting.

AKI, in addition to increasing the risk of mortality of these already critically ill patients, also exposes them to a subsequent risk of progression to chronic kidney disease which can sometimes reach the end stage of kidney disease, requiring continuous replacement therapy (dialysis or renal transplant).

However, the health community is also aware that AKI, often but not necessarily in a milder form, can also occur in a partially or completely asymptomatic way in subjects in an outpatient setting. These often-unrecognized forms of AKI are sometime due to a serendipitous exposure to toxic and or environmental nephrotoxic factors: e.g., consumption of out-of-the-counter drugs; some herbal products; unbalanced dietary supplementation; exposure to too high or too low temperatures; air pollution; strenuous exercise; etcetera.

The detection of AKI episodes in outpatient settings poses specific challenges due to the diverse patient demographics, existing comorbidities, and often restricted access to immediate and comprehensive diagnostic resources. These circumstances underline the imperative for innovative detection strategies, robust screening protocols, and heightened clinical awareness to facilitate early identification and intervention in outpatient AKI cases.

This Research Topic aims to gather a thorough collection of studies that explore the obstacles and advancements in identifying AKI within outpatient environments. We encourage researchers, clinicians, and healthcare professionals to submit original research, reviews, case reports, clinical trials, methodologies, and opinion pieces that deepen our understanding and enhance our ability to detect and manage AKI episodes outside of the hospital setting.

Potential subtopics include but are not limited to:

Diagnostic Methods: Exploration of novel biomarkers, diagnostic tools, and algorithms designed for the early detection of AKI in outpatient care.

Risk Assessment:  Identification and validation of specific risk factors and predictive models for AKI in outpatient populations; paying particular attention to toxic and environmental factors.

Clinical Guidelines: Development of best practices and clinical guidelines for routine screening and monitoring of outpatient populations at elevated risk of AKI.

Technological Advancements: Utilization of telemedicine, wearable technology, AI-related tools, and other innovative tools to enable early recognition of AKI episodes.

Case or cohort Studies: Detailed analyses of clinical cases demonstrating successful identification and management of AKI in outpatient settings.

Education and Training: Strategies to enhance clinician and patient education regarding the exposure to potential nephrotoxic factors, the early signs, and symptoms of AKI.

Healthcare Policy: Examination of the implications of early AKI detection on healthcare costs, patient outcomes, and policymaking.

By synthesizing a broad spectrum of high-quality contributions, this Research Topic aims to stimulate multidisciplinary dialogue and provide comprehensive insights into the practical approaches and innovations necessary for effectively recognizing and managing AKI episodes in outpatient settings. Through this compilation, we aspire to advance clinical practices, improve patient outcomes, and mitigate the impact of AKI in the community.

We welcome submissions in all article types including original research, reviews, case reports, clinical trials, methodologies, and opinion pieces. We look forward to your valuable contributions to this vital field of study.

Submit your idea

Impact

Frontiers in Nephrology

Submit your idea

Impact