The effect of clinical decision support systems on clinical outcomes in acute kidney injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether clinical decision support systems (CDSS) for acute kidney injury (AKI) would enhance patient outcomes in terms of mortality, dialysis, and acute kidney damage progression.

METHODS

The systematic review and meta-analysis included the relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane, and SCOPUS databases until 21st January 2024. The meta-analysis was done using (RevMan 5.4.1). PROSPERO ID: CRD42024517399.

RESULTS

Our meta-analysis included ten RCTs with 18,355 patients. There was no significant difference between CDSS and usual care in all-cause mortality (RR: 1.00 with 95% CI [0.93, 1.07],  = 0.91) and renal replacement therapy (RR: 1.11 with 95% CI [0.99, 1.24],  = 0.07). However, CDSS was significantly associated with a decreased incidence of hyperkalemia (RR: 0.27 with 95% CI [0.10, 0.73],  = 0.01) and increased eGFR change (MD: 1.97 with 95% CI [0.47, 3.48],  = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

CDSS were not associated with clinical benefit in patients with AKI, with no effect on all-cause mortality or the need for renal replacement therapy. However, CDSS reduced the incidence of hyperkalemia and improved eGFR change in AKI patients.