ABSTRACT
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic remains a large contributor to the global burden of disease. SARS-CoV-2 RNAemia detection has been connected to higher mortality, but consistent data of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients have not been analyzed. Aim: To determine and quantify RNAemia at hospital admission and its impact on robust unfavorable clinical outcomes. Methods: From January 6, 2020 to August 13, 2021, we followed a multicenter cohort of 408 immunocompetent and 47 SOT patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Outcome variables were 30-day allcause mortality and invasive mechanical ventilation. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed and a propensity score (PS) was calculated. Results: SARS-CoV-2 RNAemia was demonstrated in 104 (22.9%) patients. Those with RNAemia were more frequently transplanted and presented a higher proportion of severe symptoms and signs. Mortality was 29.8% (31/104) and 3.4% (12/351) in RNAemic and non-RNAemic patients (p <0.001). The multivariate analysis adjusted by PS selected CURB-65≥2 (HR, 3.61;95% CI, 1.18-11.01;p = 0.02) and RNAemia (HR, 7.46;95% CI, 2.41-25.38;p = 0.001) as independent predictors of death. In the PS matching, SOT patients showed higher prevalence of RNAemia (57.6% vs. 13.6%) and mortality (HR, 4.56;95% CI, 1.47-7.13;p = 0.01). Conclusions: Positive RNAemia is an independent predictor of unfavorable outcome in immunocompetent and SOT. High viral load was linked to worse prognosis in a univariate analysis. Our findings help elucidate the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and provide insights for the better management of patients.