Logo image
Kidney Health Monitoring in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Graduates: A Modified Delphi Consensus Statement
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Kidney Health Monitoring in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Graduates: A Modified Delphi Consensus Statement

Michelle C. Starr, Matthew W. Harer, Heidi J. Steflik, Stephen Gorga, Namasivayam Ambalavanan, Tara M. Beck, Paulomi M. Chaudhry, Jennifer L. Chmielewski, Marissa J. Defreitas, Dana Y. Fuhrman, …
JAMA network open, Vol.7(9), e2435043
09/03/2024
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.35043
PMCID: PMC12163980
PMID: 39269711
url
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.35043View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Importance Kidney disease is common in infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Despite the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in infants discharged from the NICU, neither evidence- nor expert-based recommendations exist to guide clinical care after discharge. Objective To develop recommendations for risk stratification and kidney health monitoring among infants after discharge from the NICU. Evidence Review At the National Institute of Health–supported Consensus Workshop to Address Kidney Health in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Graduates meeting conducted in February 2024, a panel of 51 neonatal nephrology experts focused on 3 at-risk groups: (1) preterm infants, (2) critically ill infants with acute kidney injury (AKI), and (3) infants with critical cardiac disease. Using established modified Delphi processes, workgroups derived consensus recommendations. Findings In this modified Delphi consensus statement, the panel developed 10 consensus recommendations, identified gaps in knowledge, and prioritized areas of future research. Principal suggestions include risk stratification at time of hospital discharge, family and clinician education and counseling for subsequent kidney health follow-up, and blood pressure assessment as part of outpatient care. Conclusions and Relevance Preterm infants, critically ill infants with AKI, and infants with critical cardiac disease are at increased risk of CKD. We recommend (1) risk assessment at the time of discharge, (2) clinician and family education, and (3) kidney health assessments based on the degree of risk. Future work should focus on improved risk stratification, identification of early kidney dysfunction, and development of interventions to improve long-term kidney health.

Details

Metrics

Logo image