Connecting the Dots: Systematic Exploration of COVID-19 and Acute Kidney Injury through Meta-Analysis

Objective COVID-19 pandemic is a danger for the whole world. Also, our knowledge about acute kidney injury (AKI) in COVID-19 patients is incomplete. Few studies informed that the problem of AKI is a common complication, but other studies concluded that AKI is only an unusual event during COVID-19 infection. This study using meta-analysis tools aimed to find disease progression and mortality risk in affected population. Methods We systematically reviewed the literature on COVID-19 and its association with AKI as per PRISMA guideline. All authors independently performed a literature search until 8th June 2023. We included studies which reported clinical characteristics, incidence of AKI, and the death risk with AKI during COVID-19 infection. Findings We have included five studies and all of them reported older age (73-75) and males (67-84.2%) were risk factors for patient illness. COVID-19 patients with AKI had more than five times mortality risk of those without AKI. Diagnosis time after disease onset was 8.5 days (IQR, [[4][1]–[11][2]]). Fatality time after initial hospital admission was 13.5 days (IQR, 8–17). In non-survivors, systemic inflammation with high temperature, abnormal respiratory rate, acute myocardial injury, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were observed. Abnormal biochemical analytes and immunological markers were observed. Conclusion Our analyses indicate that patients experienced repeated changes in biochemical analytes and immune marker with the progression of the disease. It indicates the requirement of early management and treatment. Further study is required to conclude and to have better knowledge of AKI mechanism with COVID-19 infection. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This study did not receive any funding ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The study used ONLY openly available human data that were originally located at Pubmed or other internte sources. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present work are contained in the manuscript. [1]: #ref-4 [2]: #ref-11