ABSTRACT
Background: The initial presentation of hospitalized End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) patients with and without coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is similar and can overlap. We aimed to compare clinical dan laboratory characteristics of the COVID-19 positive and negative patients to help clinicians screen and differentiate hospitalized ESKD patients. Methods: We reviewed data from the medical record of ESKD patients hospitalized between May 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021. The study comprised all suspected COVID-19 patients. The COVID-19 positive was based on results from RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. The bivariate analysis was used to compare the positive and negative groups. The association of all characteristics and diagnosis of COVID-19 were then evaluated by multivariable analysis. Results: There was twenty-nine percent of confirmed COVID-19 in 176 ESKD patients. The proportion of dyspnea, pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, and cardiomegaly were lower in the COVID-19 positive group. Diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate, white blood cell differential counts, and potassium were lower in the COVID-19 positive group. Using a multivariate analysis, eosinophil count <0.04 x103 mu l (P<0.001, OR 3.50, 9596CI:0.123-0.665), monocyte count <0.69 x103 mu l (P=0.004, OR 2.54, 9596CI:0.166-0.931), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) <3.13 (P=0.044, OR 3.18, 9596CI:0.102-0.968) were associated with the presence of COVID-19. Conclusions: Leukocyte differential count and chest x-ray should be evaluated as an initial screening of COVID-19 in hospitalized ESKD. Low levels of monocyte and eosinophil count and mild elevation of NLR were associated with COVID-19 in ESKD patients.