An observational study in Acute Kidney Injury, Fluid Overload and Prematurity Complications, sponsored by Indiana University. Enrolling by invitation at 87 sites in 19 countries. Open to participants aged 0 Minutes to 2 Weeks. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-04.
Sponsored by Indiana University · Observational
There is a growing focus on short- and long-term kidney health in neonates, including those with acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI occurs commonly in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and is associated with adverse outcomes. In addition to poor outcomes during the hospitalization, infants discharged from the NICU may have an increased burden of kidney disease during childhood. Studies of long-term kidney function in children born prematurely show a fourfold increase in chronic kidney disease (CKD) by adolescence and into adulthood.
Despite the landmark findings of the Assessment of Worldwide Acute Kidney Injury Epidemiology in Neonates (AWAKEN) study, the limitations of this study are notable. First, the AWAKEN study enrolled infants admitted in 2014, making the data now over 10 years old. Much has changed in neonatal practice (e.g. increased AKI awareness, treatment strategies). Secondly, the findings of the AWAKEN study were geographically limited. While the AWAKEN study was multi-national and multi-center, it represented only 24 centers (22 from North America, 1 from India and 1 from Australia). Finally, information collected from AWAKEN ended at hospital discharge.
The investigators seek to leverage the strength of the Neonatal Kidney Collaborative along with other organizations and collaboratives interested in neonatal kidney health to address these gaps. Therefore, the investigators are conducting a second, modified iteration of this study entitled "AWAKEN 2.0". AWAKEN 2.0 will be a multi-center multi-national retrospective analysis utilizing similar methodology to the AWAKEN study.
AWAKEN 2.0 is a multi-center multi-national retrospective analysis utilizing similar methodology to the AWAKEN study. The investigators will capture information on all infants admitted to participating level 3 and 4 NICUs between January 1-March 31, 2019, to answer specific hypothesis regarding the following three inter-connected but independent specific aims:
Specific Aim 1. Describe prevalence of AKI in a multi-national multi-center retrospective cohort, 5 years after the original AWAKEN study.
Population:
Specific Aim 2. Determine if AKI is independently associated with mortality, length of stay, and discharge serum creatinine (SCr).
Specific Aim 3. Determine if AKI can predict chronic kidney disease, recurrent AKI and hypertension during early childhood.
Each participating site will screen all neonates admitted to the NICU during the 3 months of study and capture additional data on those who meet the same inclusion and exclusion criteria as the original cohort. There will be 6 different integrated forms.
The investigators will conduct a multi-center retrospective cohort study. All infants admitted to the NICU between January 1, 2019 and March 31, 2019 will be screened for the study.The investigators will enroll eligible infants who meet inclusion and exclusion criteria at each center for 3 consecutive months. Based on average admissions for 2018 at our centers who meet inclusion and exclusion criteria, it is estimated that it can enroll approximately 4000 infants during this time.
Exclusion Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria 1. Admitted to participating NICUs between 1/1/19- 3/31/19 2. \> 48 hours of IV fluids Exclusion Criteria 1. Age \> 14 days at admission 2. Congenital heart disease requiring transfer for escalation of CHD care and/or surgery within the first 7 days 3. Lethal chromosomal anomalies 4. Neonatal mortality \<48 hours
Neonatal Acute Kidney Injury
The investigators will evaluate the rate of neonatal AKI among infants that meet inclusion criteria across all sites. Neonatal Acute Kidney Injury will be defined by the standard neonatal definitions, including serum creatinine values and urine output (when available). Furthermore, investigators will examine if different thresholds or definitions of AKI will better predict outcomes.
Time frame: Up to 6 months or NICU discharge, whichever comes first
Risk factors for Neonatal AKI
Define the major risk factors associated with neonatal AKI. The investigators will randomly split the cohort into two groups. The investigators will develop a risk factor prediction model with the first group, and test the ability of the model to predict AKI with the second group.
Time frame: Up to 6 months or NICU discharge, whichever comes first
Fluid Overload
Fluid overload will be calculated based on daily weights and intake and output values. We will determine how fluid balance during the first few weeks of life relates to biochemical data and clinical outcomes.
Time frame: NICU admission through discharge.
Mortality
Determine if the KDIGO AKI definition adapted to neonates can predict mortality. Investigators will also evaluate if other thresholds or proposed AKI definitions can better predict mortality.
Time frame: Up to 6 months or NICU discharge, whichever comes first
Chronic Kidney Disease
In infants with available follow-up data clinically obtained, investigators will determine the rates of both clinically diagnosed (by ICD code or note) and laboratory determined Chronic Kidney Disease (using the CKID-U25 eGFR definitions).
Time frame: NICU discharge to 5 year follow-up
Hypertension
In infants with available follow-up data clinically obtained, investigators will determine the rates of both clinically diagnosed (by ICD code or note) and value determined hypertension (using AAP Hypertension thresholds)
Time frame: NICU discharge to 5 year follow-up
Proteinuria
In infants with available follow-up data clinically obtained, investigators will determine the rates of both clinically diagnosed (by ICD code or note) and laboratory determined proteinuria.
Time frame: NICU discharge to 5 year follow-up
Plan to share: No — As a retrospective study and based on terms of the data sharing agreements between sites, individual patient level data will not be made available. Investigators that have questions that may be answered by the data will be able to present proposal to request secondary data analyses to be conducted on de-identified data.
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Indiana University