Chronic Hemodialysis Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19: Short-term Outcomes in the Bronx, New York.

Background: Patients with ESKD who are on chronic hemodialysis have a high burden of comorbidities that may place them at increased risk for adverse outcomes when hospitalized with COVID-19. However, data in this unique patient population are limited. The aim of our study is to describe the clinical characteristics and short-term outcomes in patients on chronic hemodialysis who require hospitalization for COVID-19. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 114 patients on chronic hemodialysis who were hospitalized with COVID-19 at two major hospitals in the Bronx from March 9 to April 8, 2020 during the surge of SARS-CoV-2 infections in New York City. Patients were followed during their hospitalization through April 22, 2020. Comparisons in clinical characteristics and laboratory data were made between those who survived and those who experienced in-hospital death; short-term outcomes were reported. Results: Median age was 64.5 years, 61% were men, and 89% were black or Hispanic. A total of 102 (90%) patients had hypertension, 76 (67%) had diabetes mellitus, 63 (55%) had cardiovascular disease, and 30% were nursing-home residents. Intensive care unit (ICU) admission was required in 13% of patients, and 17% required mechanical ventilation. In-hospital death occurred in 28% of the cohort, 87% of those requiring ICU, and nearly 100% of those requiring mechanical ventilation. A large number of in-hospital cardiac arrests were observed. Initial procalcitonin, ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, and lymphocyte percentage were associated with in-hospital death. Conclusions: Short-term mortality in patients on chronic hemodialysis who were hospitalized with COVID-19 was high. Outcomes in those requiring ICU and mechanical ventilation were poor, underscoring the importance of end-of-life discussions in patients with ESKD who are hospitalized with severe COVID-19 and the need for heightened awareness of acute cardiac events in the setting of COVID-19. Elevated inflammatory markers were associated with in-hospital death in patients with ESKD who were hospitalized with COVID-19.

Brain perfusion single-photon emission computerized tomography/computerized tomography: Stroke-like manifestations of COVID-19 with transient antiphospholipid elevation.

COVID-19 is a viral respiratory disease associated with neurologic complications such as encephalitis or stroke in a minority of patients. The wide variety of neurologic manifestations with often unclear etiology may confound diagnosis and management. We present a young man admitted following an 8-day onset of self-resolving episodes of left hemiplegia and hemifacial droop. Diagnostic work up for seizures and stroke was largely negative. "Intra-ictal" ECD-single-photon emission computerized tomography/computerized tomography was consistent with right middle cerebral artery ischemia. Subsequent diagnostic work up revealed positive COVID-19 screening and newly-elevated antiphospholipid antibodies. Antiepileptic medications were discontinued, and the patient was successfully treated as an outpatient with corticosteroids leading to resolution of symptoms.

The association of race and COVID-19 mortality.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 mortality disproportionately affects the Black population in the United States (US). To explore this association a cohort study was undertaken. METHODS: We assembled a cohort of 505,992 patients receiving ambulatory care at Bronx Montefiore Health System (BMHS) between 1/1/18 and 1/1/20 to evaluate the relative risk of hospitalization and death in two time-periods, the pre-COVID time-period (1/1/20-2/15/20) and COVID time-period (3/1/20-4/15/20). COVID testing, hospitalization and mortality were determined with the Black and Hispanic patient population compared separately to the White population using logistic modeling. Evaluation of the interaction of pre-COVID and COVID time periods and race, with respect to mortality was completed. FINDINGS: A total of 9,286/505,992 (1.8%) patients were hospitalized during either or both pre-COVID or COVID periods. Compared to Whites the relative risk of hospitalization of Black patients did not increase in the COVID period (p for interaction=0.12). In the pre- COVID period, compared to Whites, the odds of death for Blacks and Hispanics adjusted for comorbidity was statistically equivalent. In the COVID period compared to Whites the adjusted odds of death for Blacks was 1.6 (95% CI 1.2-2.0, p = 0.001). There was a significant increase in Black mortality risk from pre-COVID to COVID periods (p for interaction=0.02). Adjustment for relevant clinical and social indices attenuated but did not fully explain the observed difference in Black mortality. INTERPRETATION: The BMHS COVID experience demonstrates that Blacks do have a higher mortality with COVID incompletely explained by age, multiple reported comorbidities and available metrics of sociodemographic disparity. FUNDING: N/A.

AKI in Hospitalized Patients with and without COVID-19: A Comparison Study.

BACKGROUND: Reports from centers treating patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have noted that such patients frequently develop AKI. However, there have been no direct comparisons of AKI in hospitalized patients with and without COVID-19 that would reveal whether there are aspects of AKI risk, course, and outcomes unique to this infection. METHODS: In a retrospective observational study, we evaluated AKI incidence, risk factors, and outcomes for 3345 adults with COVID-19 and 1265 without COVID-19 who were hospitalized in a large New York City health system and compared them with a historical cohort of 9859 individuals hospitalized a year earlier in the same health system. We also developed a model to identify predictors of stage 2 or 3 AKI in our COVID-19. RESULTS: We found higher AKI incidence among patients with COVID-19 compared with the historical cohort (56.9% versus 25.1%, respectively). Patients with AKI and COVID-19 were more likely than those without COVID-19 to require RRT and were less likely to recover kidney function. Development of AKI was significantly associated with male sex, Black race, and older age (>50 years). Male sex and age >50 years associated with the composite outcome of RRT or mortality, regardless of COVID-19 status. Factors that were predictive of stage 2 or 3 AKI included initial respiratory rate, white blood cell count, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, and lactate dehydrogenase level. CONCLUSIONS: Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 had a higher incidence of severe AKI compared with controls. Vital signs at admission and laboratory data may be useful for risk stratification to predict severe AKI. Although male sex, Black race, and older age associated with development of AKI, these associations were not unique to COVID-19.