Outcomes of COVID-19 Infection in Dialysis vs. Kidney Transplant Patients: A Nationwide Cohort Study from Qatar

ABSTRACT

Background: COVID-19 infection carries a high burden and poor outcomes in patients who are immunosuppressed like kidney transplant or on dialysis. Our study aim is to compare outcomes between dialysis and kidney transplant patients infected with COVID-19 in the State of Qatar. Methods: Retrospective cohort study reviewing medical, laboratory and radiographic data of all dialysis and kidney transplant recipients' patients in our national registry (between February and August 2020). Data collected from a national-based electronic medical record. Results: 76 patients on dialysis patients had COVID19 vs 43 kidney transplants (p=ns). Kidney transplant patients with COVID19 tended to be younger than dialysis patients (52 vs. 58 years old, p=0.007), has less hypertension and more history of deep venous thrombosis. Clinical presentation did not differ between both groups with more asymptomatic in dialysis patients compared to kidney transplant patients (14.5% versus 2.3%, p=0.03). More patients died from COVID19 in the dialysis patients vs. kidney transplant patients (11 (14.5%) vs. only 1 (2.3%), p=0.034). Inflammatory markers were significantly higher in dialysis patients (IL6 peak and Ferritin) compared to kidney transplant patients. Conclusions: Our national study showed similar incidence and severity of COVID19 in dialysis compared to kidney transplant in Qatar. Mortality and inflammatory markers were higher in dialysis patients.