ABSTRACT
Purpose: The increased COVID-19 severity observed in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) has been widely reported. In addition, several studies have shown a reduced humoral and cellular response after mRNA vaccination in this population compared to hemodialysis patients. However, there is currently no information on real-life clinical protection (deaths and hospitalizations), a gap that this study aims to fill. Method(s): Observational prospective study. A total population of 1336 KTR and hemodialysis patients from three dialysis units affiliated to Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain, vaccinated with two doses of mRNA-1273 (Moderna) or BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines. The outcomes measured were SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed by a positive RT-PCR fourteen days after the second vaccine dose, hospital admissions derived from infection, and a severe COVID-19 composite outcome, defined as either ICU admission, invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation, or death. Result(s): Six per cent (18/302) of patients on hemodialysis were infected, of whom four required hospital admission (1.3%), only one (0.3%) had severe COVID-19, and none of them died. In contrast, 4.3% (44/1034) of KTR were infected, and presented more hospital admissions (26 patients, 2.5%), severe COVID-19 (11 patients, 1.1%) or death (4 patients, 0.4%). There were no correlations on the multivariate analysis between measured outcomes and baseline characteristics nor immunosuppressive treatment. Conclusion(s): The study highlights the need for further booster doses in KTR. In contrast, the hemodialysis population appears to have an adequate clinical response to vaccination, at least up to four months from its administration.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The protective role of Vitamin D as an immunomodulator has been demonstrated in different pathologies included the viral etiology. This effect has been described by different mechanisms among these acting as an immunoprotein inducer, participates in growth and cell differentiation and acts as a mediator of apoptosis. Some evidence suggests that it could influence the SARS-COV 2 infection and its prognosis. Kidney transplant (KT) patients are more susceptible to 25 (OH) VitD (Calcidiol) deficiencies. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Vitamin D status in transplant patients who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and its possible correlation with prognosis. Methods: It is an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study that includes kidney transplant patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and with serum 25 (OH) Vit D Results: 79 patients were evaluated. The mean age was 58 years, 60.8% were men. 86% were KT, 11% were simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant (SPK). 39 (48%) presented neumonia, 22 (28%)flu-like syndrom. 14 (17%) asyntomatic and 2(2,5%) fever. From this patients 39,2% had not changes in the antiinflamatorie therapy, 20.3%, required increased dose of corticosteroids, and 30.4% required methylprednisolone bolus or initiation of anti-interleukin therapy. The mean of Vit D was 21.41+/- 11% we found that 52% has Vit D <20 ng/ dl. 25% between 20 -30 ng / dl and 21,51% > 30 ng / dl In 32 patientes who required intensification of treatment we found that 73% had Vit D levels <20 ng. 11 patients need an citical care unit, of these 62.5% had levels below <20 ng / dl. There were 12 deaths. 66% of deaths had vitamin D values <20 ng / dl. Conclusions: We were able to observe that vitamin D levels could influence in the prognosis of SARS-COV 2 infection. Vitamin D deficiency was found in a high percentage of transplant patients with COVID 19. Low levels of 25 OH Vit D were evidenced in patients who required greater intensification of antiinflamatory treatment and in deaths.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Health systems need tools to deal with COVID-19, especially for high-risk population,such as transplant recipients. Predictive models are necessary to improve management of patients and optimize resources. Methods: A retrospective study of hospitalized transplant patients due to COVID-19 was evaluated(March 3-April 24,2020). Admission data were integrated to develop a prediction model to evaluate a composite-event defined as Intensive Care Unit admission or intensification treatment with antiinflamatory agents. Predictions were made using a Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA)-Artificial Neural Network(ANN) hybrid, whose accuracy relative to several alternative configurations has been validated through a battery of clustering techniques. Results: Of 1006 recipients with a planned or an unscheduled visit during the observation period, thirty-eight were admitted due to COVID-19. Twenty-five patients(63.2%) exhibited poor clinical course(mortality rate:13.2%), within a mean of 12 days of admission stay. Cough as a presenting symptom(P=0.000), pneumonia(P=0.011), and levels of LDH(P=0.031) were admission factors associated with poor outcomes. The prediction hybrid model working with a set of 17 input variables displays an accuracy of 96.3%, outperforming any competing model, such as logistic regression(65.5%) and Random forest(denoted by Bagged Trees,44.8%). Moreover, the prediction model allows us to categorize the evolution of patients through the values at hospital admission. Conclusions: The prediction model based in Data Envelopment Analysis-Artificial Neural Network hybrid forecasts the progression towards severe COVID-19 disease with an accuracy of 96.3%, and may help to guide COVID-19 management by identification of key predictors that permit a sustainable distribution of resources in a patient-centered model. Improving efficiency and patient parformance in the AAN with DEA, we can get high accurancy even with no-big cohorts. (Table Presented).