NGO Launches Global Snapshot of Acute Kidney Injury

This week, the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) will launch a groundbreaking global study on Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) to provide essential data currently lacking on the condition, which is responsible for a high number of potentially preventable deaths in developing countries.

Acute Kidney Injury (previously termed Acute Kidney Failure) is a rapid decline in kidney function with a high risk of multiple organ failure and, potentially, death. Causes range widely from hypertension and diabetes to infectious diseases and poisoning.

The “Global Snapshot” will be carried out in more than 300 centers in at least 80 countries around the world* to assess the growing burden of AKI as well as how it is identified, managed and treated in these different settings.

The prospective, cross-sectional study is the first in a series of landmark projects to be launched under the ISN’s “0by25 Initiative”, which aims to eliminate preventable deaths from AKI by 2025. A global human rights initiative, 0by25 places a strong emphasis on low and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America with disadvantaged populations and poor access to care.

According to Dr. Ravindra Mehta, 0by25 project leader and AKI expert at UCSD San Diego: “AKI is a growing global healthcare challenge, particularly in developing countries, however, its true burden is still unknown. The Global Snapshot is mobilizing the kidney community to provide revealing new data that will allow us to better identify, manage and treat AKI, as well as raise awareness in the global healthcare community.

The Global Snapshot will run for 6 weeks – until mid-November – and the data will be collected from participating centers using a dedicated online platform. Results of the study will available at the World Congress of Nephrology in Cape Town in March 2015.

ISN President, Prof. Giuseppe Remuzzi said: “AKI should no longer be a death sentence! It is often preventable and treatable with few, if any, long-term health consequences. Through the 0by25 initiative, ISN aims to promote globally applicable strategies that permit timely diagnosis and treatment of AKI for patients with potentially reversible diseases We also hope to support the development of sustainable infrastructure to improve education, training and care delivery.”

0by25 is endorsed by regional and national nephrology societies worldwide and welcomes support from partners across the global healthcare community. Registration for the Global Snapshot is still open and centers are being encouraged to sign up this week. More information about the study and the 0by25 Initiative can be found on the dedicated website: www.0by25.org.

*Number of registered centres at the time of release. This number is expected to increase over the coming weeks.

About the ISN

The International Society of Nephrology is a global not-for-profit society dedicated to improving kidney care and reducing the incidence and impact of kidney disease worldwide. Through its global network and programs, ISN brings together the developing and developed world in a collaborative effort in fighting and treating kidney disease on a global scale. For more information, visit the ISN website: www.theisn.org.