Background: The cardiovascular and renal benefits of renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade are not well-established in patients with advanced CKD. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify potential risks and benefits from RAAS blockade in patients with CKD stage 4-5.
Methods: A Medline search from inception to November 2022 was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in patients with CKD stage 4-5 (estimated GFR ≤ 30 mL/min/1.73m2) comparing RAAS blockade against placebo or alternative antihypertensive therapy. Different intervention strategies were assessed (RAAS use vs non-use, initiation vs placebo/alternative therapy or discontinuation vs continuation). The primary outcome was progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The risk ratio (RR) was estimated using a random-effects model.
Results: Nine RCTs (1,150 patients) were included. In RCTs, RAAS blockade was associated with a significant reduction in progression to ESKD: RR 0.84 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74 - 0.96; p = 0.01). There was no benefit from RAAS blockade on all-cause mortality or MACE: RR 1.02 (95% CI 0.63 - 1.65; p = 0.93) and RR 0.87 (95% CI 0.49- 1.57; p = 0.65), respectively.
Conclusions: RAAS blockade may be considered in selected patients with CKD stage 4-5 to delay progression to ESKD.
Keywords: Advanced chronic kidney disease; CKD progression; angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors; angiotensin receptor blockers; end-stage kidney disease; major adverse cardiovascular events; mortality; renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade.
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