ABSTRACT
We sought to characterize the clinical profiles and outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 and comorbid kidney disease hospitalized at urban, Midwestern tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: In this single-center observational study, we describe 205 patients with acute kidney injury (n=98), dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease stage 5 (n=54), or kidney transplant (n=53), admitted during the first surge of the local pandemic from March 19 2020, to July 31 2021. Results: Most patients in the cohort were African American (acute kidney injury, 51%; dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease stage 5, 82%; kidney transplant, 62%), and obesity was common (acute kidney injury, 53%; dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease stage 5, 44%; kidney transplant 56%). Mechanical ventilation was required in 50% of the acute kidney injury, 22% of the dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease stage 5, and 13% of the kidney transplant recipients. Nearly half of the acute kidney injury patients (46%) died and 49% required replacement therapy, while in-hospital mortality was 24% in the dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease stage 5 patients and 9% in the kidney transplant recipients. Logistic regression analysis identified older age and patient group as leading correlates of mortality, with lower death risk in the kidney transplant (24%; odds ratio (OR), 0.17; 95% CI 0.06-0.47) and dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease stage 5 (9%; OR, 0.36; 95% CI 0.16-0.78) patients compared to acute kidney injury patients (46%). Obesity was associated with 5-fold increased mortality risk in the coronavirus disease 2019 patients with acute kidney injury (OR, 5.32; 95% CI 1.41-20.03) but not in dependent dialysis chronic kidney disease stage 5 and kidney transplant patients. Conclusion: During the first surge of the pandemic, kidney patients hospitalized COVID-19 experienced high mortality, especially those with acute kidney injury, older age and obesity. Identifying those at highest risk for adverse outcomes may direct preventative strategies including counseling on vaccination.