Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist versus Placebo in a Patient With End-Stage Kidney Disease Under Renal Replacement Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The number of patients living with chronic kidney diseases is increasing, and so are the patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing renal replacement therapy. Although there is a common understanding that these patients face higher risks of fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) have been an essential pillar in managing heart failure, their use in this subset of patients has been overshadowed because of concerns of hyperkalemia. Patients with ESRD under renal replacement therapy have often been excluded from landmark trials. This meta-analysis was conducted based on the PRISMA guideline after registering the protocol with PROSPERO (CRD42024499835). A database search included articles until April 2024, and relevant data were extracted from the included studies. Analysis was done using RevMan web (version 5.4). A total of 15 studies among 1086 studies were included in the final analysis. Our meta-analysis revealed MRA significantly reduced all-cause mortality (odds ratio (OR) 0.35, confidence interval (CI), 0.23-0.54) and cardiovascular mortality (OR 0.37, 0.21-0.65). With some possible increase in the risk of hyperkalemia (OR 1.56, CI, 1.01-2.42), with no discernible difference in the occurrence of stroke (OR 0.57, CI, 0.25-1.28) or myocardial infarction (OR 0.63, CI, 0.08-4.72). The utilization of MRA in patients with ESRD under dialysis is linked to improved mortality outcomes, albeit with slight concerns for hyperkalemia. Although current evidence leans toward MRA usage, prospective randomized controlled trials involving a broader patient cohort are essential to establish robust guidance for MRA application in this subset of patients.