Corticosteroids in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A meta-analysis of 12,559 patients

Abstract

Objective

Corticosteroids can attenuate the inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass, but their benefits on clinical outcomes are unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate whether corticosteroid therapy affects outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, EBSCO and Cochrane databases from 1 January 2010 to 14 March 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed corticosteroid versus non- corticosteroid therapy in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were renal failure, infection, delirium, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay.

Results

Four RCTs including 12,559 patients (6265 randomized to corticosteroid therapy and 6294 to non-corticosteroid therapy) were included. One-hundred and 92 of 6265 patients (3.1%) randomized to the corticosteroid group versus 221 of 6294 patients (3.5%) randomized to the non-corticosteroid group experienced death during hospitalization. Compared the control group, corticosteroid therapy did not significantly reduce in-hospital mortality, with an RR of 0.87 (0.72–1.06), p = .16. There was no difference in the incidence of infection (RR 0.78 (0.56–1.10), p = .16), delirium during hospitalization (RR 1.01 (0.90–1.14), p = .85), or the length of hospital stay (MD −0.13 (−0.32 to 0.05), p = .17). However, corticosteroid therapy significantly reduced the risk of renal failure ( RR 0.82 (0.67–0.99), p = .04), and the length of ICU stay (MD −0.41 (−0.65 to −0.17), p < .01).

Conclusions

Corticosteroids did not significantly reduce the rates of in-hospital mortality, infection, or delirium, but reduce the incidence of renal failure and the length of ICU stay.