High-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration and acute kidney injury after noncardiac surgery

Background Abnormal High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Concentration is closely related to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgeries. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Concentration and acute kidney injury after non-cardiac surgeries. Method This was a single-center cohort study for elective non-cardiac non-kidney surgery from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2017. The endpoint was the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) 7 days postoperatively in the hospital. Preoperative serum High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Concentration was examined by multivariate logistic regression models before and after propensity score weighting analysis. Results Of the 74,284 surgeries, 4.4% (3159 cases) suffered acute kidney injury. The odds ratio for HDL (0.96-1.14 as reference, < 0.96, 1.14-1.35, > 1.35) was 1.28 (1.14-1.41), P < 0.001; 0.91 (0.80-1.03), P = 0.150; 0.75 (0.64-0.85), P < 0.001, respectively. Using a dichotomized cutoff point for propensity analysis, Preoperative serum HDL < 1.03 mmol/L (> 1.03 as reference) was associated with increased risk of postoperative AKI, with odds ratio 1.40 (1.27 similar to 1.52), P < 0.001 before propensity score weighting, and 1.32 (1.21-1.46), P < 0.001 after propensity score weighting. Sensitivity analysis with other cut values of HDL showed similar results. Conclusions Using multivariate regression analyses before and after propensity score weighting, in addition to multiple sensitivity analysis methods, this study found that following non-cardiac surgery, low HDL cholesterol levels were independent risk factors for AKI.