The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been widespread, and acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant risk among individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2. This systematic review combines the findings of several systematic reviews on the incidence of AKI in COVID-19 patients. The review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and conducted an extensive search of databases, including OVID, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, ProQuest, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science until March 17, 2021. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to assess the overall prevalence of AKI and its associated mortality, with a 95% confidence interval. Out of the studies analyzed, 15 systematic reviews were included, including 265,162 patients. A total of 24,277 (9.15%) COVID-19 patients experienced AKI. The random-effects model showed that the overall incidence of AKI in these patients was 1% (95% CI: 1%-2%, I² < 1%, P < 0.001). The AKI-associated mortality was 64% (95% CI: 44%-83%, I² = 99.32%, P < 0.001). These results suggest that AKI is a frequent complication among COVID-19 patients. Early diagnosis and treatment of AKI and its underlying causes should be a priority in the management of patients with COVID-19-associated AKI.
