Effects of early dialysis on the outcomes of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Association of Hypophosphatemia during Continuous Kidney Replacement Therapy and Clinical Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Hypophosphatemia is a common and potentially severe complication of continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT), but the evidence on the correlation between hypophosphatemia occurring during CKRT and clinical outcomes remains limited.

METHODS

Electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane database) were searched from inception to March 1, 2024. All possible studies that examined the following outcomes were included: all-cause mortality, mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and CKRT duration.

RESULTS

A total of 8,631 patients from eight cohort studies were included. There was no statistical association between hypophosphatemia during CKRT and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.57-1.18, p = 0.28, I2 = 83%). However, hypophosphatemia was associated with longer duration of mechanical ventilation (WMD 80.30 h, 95% CI 31.37-129.22, p = 0.001, I2 = 60%). Furthermore, a longer length of ICU stay (WMD 2.76 d, 95% CI 2.50-3.02, p < 0.00001, I2 = 36%) and CKRT duration (WMD 51.51 h, 95% CI 2.69-100.34, p = 0.04, I2 = 96%) were observed in patients with hypophosphatemia.

CONCLUSIONS

The association between hypophosphatemia and mortality in patients receiving CKRT was insufficient. However, hypophosphatemia during CKRT might be associated with adverse clinical outcomes for critically ill patients.

APASL clinical practice guidelines on the management of acute kidney injury in acute-on-chronic liver failure

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome that is characterized by the rapid development of organ failures predisposing these patients to a high risk of short-term early death. The main causes of organ failure in these patients are bacterial infections and systemic inflammation, both of which can be severe. For the majority of these patients, a prompt liver transplant is still the only effective course of treatment. Kidneys are one of the most frequent extrahepatic organs that are affected in patients with ACLF, since acute kidney injury (AKI) is reported in 22.8-34% of patients with ACLF. Approach and management of kidney injury could improve overall outcomes in these patients. Importantly, patients with ACLF more frequently have stage 3 AKI with a low rate of response to the current treatment modalities. The objective of the present position paper is to critically review and analyze the published data on AKI in ACLF, evolve a consensus, and provide recommendations for early diagnosis, pathophysiology, prevention, and management of AKI in patients with ACLF. In the absence of direct evidence, we propose expert opinions for guidance in managing AKI in this very challenging group of patients and focus on areas of future research. This consensus will be of major importance to all hepatologists, liver transplant surgeons, and intensivists across the globe.

A National Case-Crossover Study on the Risk of Kidney Injury Requiring Dialysis after Sepsis

BACKGROUND

Patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) are at risk of kidney damage, potentially necessitating acute temporary or chronic dialysis. Our study aims to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of preceding sepsis among patients requiring their first dialysis.

METHODS

A nationwide population-based case-only study was conducted using claims records from the National Health insurance database of Taiwan. All patients over 20 years of age who underwent their first dialysis between 2004 and 2016 were included in the study. The six months prior to their first dialysis served as a self-control period.

RESULTS

The study included 147,201 patients who required acute temporary and 75,031 patients who required chronic dialysis. The odds ratios for patients needing acute temporary dialysis after 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks of exposure periods were 15.8, 10.7, 9.2, and 8.4, respectively. The ORs for patients requiring chronic dialysis were 7.0, 4.1, 4.2, and 3.7, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that sepsis was substantially associated with an increased risk of renal failure. The risk was highest during the first week following sepsis for both acute temporary and chronic dialysis cases.

Impact of Obesity on Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Intra-Abdominal Hypertension and Abdominal Compartment Syndrome

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Obesity may result in increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and affect clinical outcomes of patients with IAH and/or ACS. This study aims to establish the impact of obesity on the clinical outcomes of IAH and ACS patients. A systematic search of Medline, Embase, and Scopus was performed in August 2022. Nine studies comprising 9938 patients were included. There were 65.1% males (n = 6250/9596). Patient demographics, comorbidities, and morbidities were analyzed in correlation with obesity and IAP. Obese patients had a higher risk of IAH (OR 8.5, p < 0.001). Obesity was associated with the need for renal replacement therapy, intensive care unit-acquired infections, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, acute respiratory distress syndrome, length of hospital stay, and mortality. This review highlights the lacunae in the existing literature to underpin the direct impact of obesity, independent of obesity-associated comorbidities, on the clinical outcomes of IAH and ACS.

Accelerated-strategy renal replacement therapy for critically ill patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effect and safety of accelerated-strategy initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in critically ill patients.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, OVID, EBSCO, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant articles from inception to December 30, 2020. Only RCTs that compared the clinical efficacy and safety between accelerated-strategy RRT and standard-strategy RRT among critically ill adult patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) were included. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 5279 patients in 12 RCTs were included in this meta-analysis. The 28-day mortality rates of patients treated with accelerated and standard RRT were 37.3% (969/2596) and 37.9% (976/2573), respectively. No significant difference was observed between the groups (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.70-1.12; I2 = 60%). The recovery rates of renal function were 54.5% and 52.5% in the accelerated- and standard-RRT groups, respectively, with no significant difference (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.89-1.19; I2 = 56%). The rate of RRT dependency was similar in the accelerated- and standard-RRT strategies (6.7% vs 5.0%; OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.71-1.72; I2 = 20%). The accelerated-RRT group displayed higher risks of hypotension, catheter-related infection, and hypophosphatemia than the standard-RRT group (hypotension: OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.10-1.45; I2 = 36%; catheter-related infection: OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.17-3.09; I2 = 0%; hypophosphatemia: OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.43-3.15; I2 = 67%).

CONCLUSIONS

Accelerated RRT does not reduce the risk of death and does not improve the recovery of kidney function among critically ill patients with AKI. In contrast, an increased risk of adverse events was observed in patients receiving accelerated RRT. However, these findings were based on low quality of evidence. Further large-scale RCTs is warranted.

The impact of early versus late initiation of renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury on mortality and clinical outcomes: a meta-analysis

Background

Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is essential in the presence of life-threatening complications associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). In the absence of urgent indications, the optimal timing for RRT initiation is still under debate. This meta-analysis aims to compare the benefits between early and late RRT initiation strategies in critically ill patients with AKI.

Methods

Studies were obtained from three databases [Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and Scopus], searched from inception to May 2021. The selected primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included overall mortality, recovery of renal function (RRF) and RRT-associated adverse events. A random-effects model was used for summary measures. Heterogeneity was assessed through Cochrane I² test statistics. Potential sources of heterogeneity for the primary outcome were sought using sensitivity analyses. Further subgroup analyses were conducted based on RRT modality and study population.

Results

A total of 13 randomized controlled trials including 5193 participants were analysed. No significant differences were found between early and late RRT initiation regarding 28-day mortality [risk ratio (RR) 1.00; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89–1.12, I² = 30%], overall mortality (RR 1.00; 95% CI 0.90–1.12, I² = 42%) and RRF (RR 1.02; 95% CI 0.92–1.13, I² = 53%). However, early RRT initiation was associated with a significantly higher incidence of hypotensive (RR 1.34; 95% CI 1.17–1.53, I² = 6%) and infectious events (RR 1.83; 95% CI 1.11–3.02, I² = 0%).

Conclusions

Early RRT initiation does not improve the 28-day and overall mortality, nor the likelihood of RRF, and increases the risk for RRT-associated adverse events, namely hypotension and infection.

The Efficacy and Safety of Early Renal Replacement Therapy in Critically Ill Patients With Acute Kidney Injury: A Meta-Analysis With Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

The efficacy and safety of early renal replacement therapy (eRRT) for critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) remain controversial. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to perform an up-to-date meta-analysis with the trial sequential analysis (TSA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the therapeutic effect of eRRT on patients in an intensive care unit (ICU). We extensively searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and ClinicalTrials.gov, Gray Literature Report, and Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (BASE), and conducted an updated search on December 27, 2021. The included studies were RCTs, which compared the efficacy and safety of eRRT and delayed renal replacement therapy (dRRT) on critically ill patients with AKI. We adopted TSA and sensitivity analysis to strengthen the robustness of the results. About 12 RCTs with a total of 5,423 participants were included. Patients receiving eRRT and dRRT had the similar rate of all-cause mortality at day 28 (38.7% vs. 38.9%) [risk ratio (RR), 1.00; 95%CI, 0.93-1.07, p = 0.93, I ² = 0%, p = 0.93]. A sensitivity and subgroup analysis produced similar results for the primary outcome. TSA showed that the required information size was 5,034, and the cumulative Z-curve crossed trial sequential monitoring boundaries for futility. Patients receiving eRRT had a higher rate of renal replacement therapy (RRT) (RR, 1.50, 95% CI: 1.28-1.76, p < 0.00001, I ² = 96%), and experienced more adverse events comparing to those receiving dRRT (RR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.22-1.63, p < 0.0001, heterogeneity not applied). The most remarkable and important experimental finding is that, to our knowledge, the current meta-analysis included the largest sample size from the RCTs, which were published in the past 10 years to date, show that eRRT had no significant survival benefit for ill patients with AKI compared with dRRT and TSA indicating that no more studies were needed to confirm it.

Trial Registration

INPLASY, INPLASY2020120030. Registered 04 December 2020.

Sepsis With Preexisting Heart Failure: Management of Confounding Clinical Features

Preexisting heart failure (HF) in patients with sepsis is associated with worse clinical outcomes. Core sepsis management includes aggressive volume resuscitation followed by vasopressors (and potentially inotropes) if fluid is inadequate to restore perfusion; however, large fluid boluses and vasoactive agents are concerning amid the cardiac dysfunction of HF. This review summarizes evidence regarding the influence of HF on sepsis clinical outcomes, pathophysiologic concerns, resuscitation targets, hemodynamic interventions, and adjunct management (ie, antiarrhythmics, positive pressure ventilatory support, and renal replacement therapy) in patients with sepsis and preexisting HF. Patients with sepsis and preexisting HF receive less fluid during resuscitation; however, evidence suggests traditional fluid resuscitation targets do not increase the risk of adverse events in HF patients with sepsis and likely improve outcomes. Norepinephrine remains the most well-supported vasopressor for patients with sepsis with preexisting HF, while dopamine may induce more cardiac adverse events. Dobutamine should be used cautiously given its generally detrimental effects but may have an application when combined with norepinephrine in patients with low cardiac output. Management of chronic HF medications warrants careful consideration for continuation or discontinuation upon development of sepsis, and β-blockers may be appropriate to continue in the absence of acute hemodynamic decompensation. Optimal management of atrial fibrillation may include β-blockers after acute hemodynamic stabilization as they have also shown independent benefits in sepsis. Positive pressure ventilatory support and renal replacement must be carefully monitored for effects on cardiac function when HF is present.