The document discusses acute kidney injury, nephron function, causes, treatment, prevention, and research advancements in kidney health

 

SAFEGUARDING THE KIDNEY

• Early detection and prompt treatment can prevent long-term health effects of acute kidney injury.
• The kidneys filter toxins through nephrons, which can be damaged in AKI.

NEPHRON COUNT

• Average person starts with around one million nephrons in each kidney.
• Nephron count declines with age, making older individuals more vulnerable to nephron damage.

INJURY AND RESILIENCE

• AKI damages nephrons, reducing filtration efficiency through the glomerulus.
• AKI can be mild, moderate, or severe, with even mild cases increasing the risk of death.

AN UNWANTED GIFT

• AKI can be community acquired or hospital acquired, with hospital-acquired cases ranging from 600 to 2,880 cases per million people.
• AKI is common in hospitalized adults and intensive care patients, increasing the risk of stroke and heart attack.