Kidney Function After SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Patients With and Without AKI During Hospital Admission in Western Mexico

ABSTRACT

Background: Kidney damage in COVID-19 patients has been of special concern. Kidney function after COVID-19 has not been comprehensively studied, and there is scarce information comparing kidney function among patients with or without AKI during hospital admission. Method(s) Retrospective cohort study in a secondary level center in Guadalajara, Mexico. Patients who were admitted due to COVID-19 from April-December 2020 and who survived at discharge and who had at least one follow-up visit in the outpatient clinic 6 months after initial symptoms were included. Information was obtained from outpatient electronic medical files. Result(s) From a total of 1085 patients, 733 survived at discharge. 113 had AKI during admission and only 33 (29.2%) had any kind of outpatient follow-up. Their mean age was 60.6 years, 63.6% were men, 48.4% had DM and 66.6% had HTN. Mean baseline SCr was 0.82 mg/dL with a mean eGFR of 90.82 ml/min. On follow-up mean stable SCr increased to 1.49 mg/dL, with a mean eGFR of 65.71 ml/min, a mean decrease of 25.11 ml/min. 15 patients (45.45%) developed CKD and 1 patient (3.03%) started RRT. Mean follow-up time was 451 days. 34 patients with no AKI during admission had a follow-up visit;mean age was 58.1 years, 58.8% were men, 47.1% had DM and 70.6% had HTN. Mean baseline SCr was 0.78 mg/dL and mean eGFR was 92.33 ml/min. On follow-up mean stable SCr increased to 0.86 mg/dL, with a mean eGFR of 86.64 ml/min, a mean decrease of 5.69 ml/min. 1 patient (2.94%) developed CKD and none required to start RRT. Mean follow-up time was 468 days. Conclusion(s) AKI during COVID-19 was associated to a significant decrease in eGFR on follow-up. Those with COVID19 without AKI during admission also had a small decrease in eGFR on follow-u. Timely and more intense follow-up strategies after COVID19 and AKI are needed.