Preventing avoidable harm during acute illness

In primary care, AKI is most often driven by acute illness and haemodynamic disturbance rather than medication toxicity alone. During intercurrent illness, the priorities are early clinical assessment, fluid status assessment, and safe medicines review.

People at highest risk include those with CKD, heart failure, diabetes, advanced age, frailty, previous AKI, or those taking medicines that affect renal perfusion or accumulate in kidney impairment. Proactive identification of these individuals supports earlier review during acute illness and more targeted follow-up after AKI.