ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients face disadvantages with higher risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection, atypical manifestations, and associated multiple comorbidities. We describe patients' outcomes with symptomatic COVID-19 on MHD in a large cohort of patients from India. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively from hemodialysis units in 11 public and private hospitals between March 15, 2020, and July 31, 2020. The survival determinants were analyzed using stepwise backward elimination cox-regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 263 total patients (mean age 51.76 ± 13.63 years and males 173) on MHD with symptomatic COVID-19, 35 (13.3%) died. Those who died were older (p = 0.01), had higher frequency of diabetic kidney disease (p = 0.001), comorbidities (p = 0.04), and severe COVID-19 (p = 0.001). Mortality was higher among patients on twice-weekly MHD than thrice-weekly (p = 0.001) and dialysis through central venous catheter (CVC) as compared to arteriovenous fistula (p = 0.001). On multivariate analysis, CVC use (HR 2.53, 95% CI 1.26-5.07, p = 0.009), disease severity (HR = 3.54, 95% CI 1.52-8.26, p = 0.003), and noninvasive ventilatory support (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.25-0.99, p = 0.049) had significant effect on mortality. CONCLUSION: The adjusted mortality risk of COVID-19 in MHD patients is high in patients associated with severe COVID-19 and patients having CVC as vascular access.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/mortality , Renal Dialysis , Age Factors , Catheterization, Central Venous/adverse effects , Comorbidity , Female , Hospital Mortality , Hospital Units , Humans , India/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Noninvasive Ventilation , Prospective Studies , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
Development of COVID-19 pandemic has affected organ transplant activity significantly. To start with, government of India had adviced stoppage of "elective" surgeries so as to cope with resources and manpower for COVID-19 patients. As majority of hospitals are having both COVID and Non-COVID patients, there is obvious fear of cross-infection. Also, transplant patients being immunocompromised, there is higher risk of acquiring COVID-19 infection along with atypical presentation and unpredicted course of the disease. Result was that across India, elective living related kidney transplant came to a halt. Cadaver renal transplant, being emergency in nature still done, though very few. With passing time, once it became clear that pandemic is not going to be controlled sooner, need has been felt to restart renal transplant activity. Keeping various issues in mind in relation to elective living related renal transplant and emergency deceased donor renal transplant, these guidelines have been framed to help transplant professionals for restarting renal transplant program again in the country, while keeping both health care workers and patient safe.
ABSTRACT
COVID pandemic poses challenges to peritoneal dialysis patients, caretaker, and service provider to the PD patients as well. The chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are trained to do the PD procedure at home, therefore can avoid in-center hospital visit unlike patients on hemodialysis. Thus, PD patients can avoid undue exposure to the novel coronavirus. The PD can be offered in COVID induced AKI patients, even in remote places where hemodialysis cannot be offered. The paper is aimed to provide guidelines about the safe use of PD and treatment of complications during the COVID pandemic.