Association Between Acute Kidney Injury, Delirium, and Outcomes in Patients With Critical Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors' conclusion
Delirium is common among critically ill patients with AKI and is associated with worse outcomes and greater health resource use.
Study context
- Population
- Critically ill ICU patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) (studies January 2000 to January 2025)
- Participants
- 158,694 patients · 18 observational studies
- Comparison
- Delirium vs no delirium among patients with AKI
- Outcome
- Proportion of critically ill patients with AKI who developed delirium
Methodological detailsrandom-effects model, GRADE certainty assessment, Overall study quality was moderate
- Random-effects model
- GRADE certainty assessment
- Overall study quality was moderate
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Pooled proportion of delirium among patients with AKI
Pooled proportion of delirium among patients with AKI
32%
95% CI 18–47%
Further pooled results
| Outcome | RR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| MortalityModerate certainty | 2.36 (1.61–3.47) | |
| RRT useModerate certainty | 3.12 (1.89–5.15) | |
| 0.20.5125Relative risk (log scale) |
| Outcome | WMD (d) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| ICU LOSModerate certainty | 3.54 (1.20-5.87 d) | |
| Hospital LOSModerate certainty | 4.78 (3.48-6.09 d) | |
| −50510Difference, d (linear scale) |
Original publication
Association Between Acute Kidney Injury, Delirium, and Outcomes in Patients With Critical Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Crit Care Med. Published 17 December 2025. doi:10.
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