Presentation and Outcomes of Patients with ESKD and COVID-19

Significance Statement Immunosuppression and a high prevalence of comorbidities among patients with ESKD on dialysis raise concerns that such patients may have an elevated risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the outcomes for COVID-19 in this patient population are not clear. In their study of 59 patients with ESKD and COVID-19 receiving dialysis at a New York City medical center, the authors found that although the presentation of patients on dialysis with COVID-19 was similar to that of the general population, these patients have poor outcomes, including 31% overall mortality and 75% mortality among those requiring mechanical ventilation. In addition, higher levels of inflammatory markers associated with severe disease. This information will help inform care of patients on dialysis who develop COVID-19 and reinforces the importance of infection control measures when treating this vulnerable population. Background The relative immunosuppression and high prevalence of comorbidities in patients with ESKD on dialysis raise concerns that they may have an elevated risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but outcomes for COVID-19 in such patients are unclear. Methods To examine presentation and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with ESKD on dialysis, we retrospectively collected clinical data on 59 patients on dialysis who were hospitalized with COVID-19. We used Wilcoxon rank sum and Fischer exact tests to compare patients who died versus those still living. Results Two of the study?s 59 patients were on peritoneal dialysis, and 57 were on hemodialysis. Median age was 63 years, with high prevalence of hypertension (98%) and diabetes (69%). Patients who died were significantly older than those still living (median age, 75 versus 62 years) and had a higher median Charlson comorbidity index (8 versus 7). The most common presenting symptoms were fever (49%) and cough (39%); initial radiographs most commonly showed multifocal or bilateral opacities (59%). By end of follow-up, 18 patients (31%) died a median 6 days after hospitalization, including 75% of patients who required mechanical ventilation. Eleven of those who died had advanced directives against intubation. The remaining 41 patients (69%) were discharged home a median 8 days after admission. The median initial white blood cell count was significantly higher in patients who died compared with those still living (7.5 versus 5.7?10(3)/?l), as was C-reactive protein (163 versus 80 mg/L). Conclusions The association of COVID-19 with high mortality in patients with ESKD on dialysis reinforces the need to take appropriate infection control measures to prevent COVID-19 spread in this vulnerable population.