ABSTRACT
Introduction: A hemodialysis unit had been installed at the COVID-19 treatment center of the Kinshasa University Hospital (CTCO/KUH) for COVID-19 patients with acute kidney injury requiring hemodialysis (AKI-3D) and chronic hemodialysis patients with COVID-19 infection (CKD-5D). The aim of the study was to determine the incidence rate of hemodialysis unit admission, and to compare clinical profile and 45-day mortality between the two groups (G1= AKI 3-D, and G2= CKD-5D). Method(s): We underwent a retrospective cohort study using CTCO/KUH data involving the first 4 waves of the Covid-19 pandemic. The incidence rate was calculated based on the total number of cases of SARS-COV-2 infection diagnosed at the CTCO/KUH laboratory and the duration of each wave of the pandemic. The AKI-CKD diagnosis was defined according to KDIGO criteria. The endpoint was survival (time to death) assessed on day 45 starting from the first hemodialysis session at the CTCO/KUH. Dialysis was funded by government partners. Result(s): 2.254 cases of SARS-COV-2 infection and 835 hospitalizations for COVID-19 were recorded: 401/215 in the 1st wave (V1), 835/196 in V2, 508/245 in V3 and 510/178 to V4. Only 43 patients underwent hemodialysis (16 = 37% G1 and 27 = 63% G2). The incidence rate of COVID-19 hemodialysis unit admission was 8.7/ 1000 patient-months during V1 vs 1.9 in V2;4.5 in V3 and 4.7 in V4 (p=0.001). Mean age (58 +/- 13 years G1 vs 56+/-12 years G2, p=0.632) and clinical profile (men 63% vs 85%, p=0.093;diabetics 48% vs 44%, p=0.609;hypertensives 94% vs 89%, p=0.521;obeses 13% vs 7%, p=0.479) between the two groups (G1 vs G2) did not show any statistically significant difference. At Day 45 of follow-up, survival was 75% in G1 vs 89% in G2 (p=0.220). Conclusion(s): The incidence rate of hemodialysis unit admission related to COVID-19 patients was higher during the first wave of the pandemic. The clinical profile and outcome of COVID-19 patients on dialysis for AKI-3D seem comparable with CKD5-D patients. No conflict of interestCopyright © 2023