The Epidemiological Characteristics and Outcome of COVID-19 in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis: A Multi-center Study in Iran

The pandemic of COVID- 19 emerged in December 2019. Although numerous features of the illness have been investigated, the impact of disease on those patients with underlying diseases, is still a major problem. The aim of this multicenter, cohort study, was to determine the clinical manifestations of COVID- 19 in peritoneal dialysis ( PD) patients. Five hundred and five patients, receiving PD, were enrolled in this study, out of which 3.7% had coronavirus infection. Fever was the most common symptom ( 63.2%). The hospitalization rate was 10.5, 21.1% required admission to intensive care units ( ICU) and the mortality rate was 21%. The most common cause of infection included close contact with the infected individuals and lower rates of protective equipment use. Although the incidence of COVID- 19 among PD patients is low, the severity of the disease and the mortality rate are quite high. Vaccination and adherence to preventive measures are strongly recommended in PD patients.