Effect of Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors on Acute Kidney Injury Among Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Review and Meta-Analysis

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of cardiac surgery, which can lead to higher mortality and long-term renal function impairment. The effect of perioperative renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) therapy on AKI incidence in patients undergoing cardiac surgery remains controversial. We reviewed related studies in PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library from inception to February 2020. Two randomized controlled trials and 21 cohort studies were included in the meta-analysis, involving 76,321 participants. The pooled odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. The results showed no significant association between perioperative RASi therapy and postoperative AKI in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. We highlighted the limitations of existing studies and called for well-designed large-scale randomized controlled trials to verify the conclusion.