Clinical Features of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Hemodialysis Patients.
Kidney Blood Press Res
; 46(1): 126-134, 2021.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1050416
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
CKD is a risk factor for severe COVID-19. However, the clinical spectrum of COVID-19 in hemodialysis patients is still poorly characterized.OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the clinical spectrum of COVID-19 on hemodialysis patients.METHOD:
A retrospective observational study was conducted on 66 hemodialysis patients. Nasopharyngeal swab PCR and serology for SARS-CoV-2, blood analysis, chest radiography, treatment, and outcomes were assessed.RESULTS:
COVID-19 was diagnosed in 50 patients 38 (76%) were PCR-positive and 12 (24%) were PCR-negative but developed anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. By contrast, 17% of PCR-positive patients failed to develop detectable antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Among PCR-positive patients, 5/38 (13%) were asymptomatic, while among PCR-negative patients 7/12 (58%) were asymptomatic (p = 0.005) for a total of 12/50 (24%) asymptomatic patients. No other differences were found between PCR-positive and PCR-negative patients. No differences in potential predisposing factors were found between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients except for a lower use of ACE inhibitors among asymptomatic patients. Asymptomatic patients had laboratory evidence of milder disease such as higher lymphocyte counts and oxygen saturation and lower troponin I and interleukin-6 levels than symptomatic patients. Overall mortality was 7/50 (14%) and occurred only in symptomatic PCR-positive patients in whom mortality was 7/33 (21%).CONCLUSIONS:
Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection is common in hemodialysis patients, especially among patients with initial negative PCR that later seroconvert. Thus COVID-19 mortality in hemodialysis patients may be lower than previously estimated based on PCR tests alone.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Renal Dialysis
/
Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
/
Asymptomatic Diseases
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Etiology study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
English
Journal:
Kidney Blood Press Res
Journal subject:
Nephrology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
000512535
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS