Abstract
INTRODUCTION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, receiving hemodialysis was recognized as a predictor of poor survival. This study evaluated in-hospital and late survival in patients treated with hemodialysis during COVID-19 hospitalization.
METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included 176 patients requiring hemodialysis during COVID-19 hospitalization. Patients were divided into three groups: acute kidney injury (AKI), acute-on-chronic kidney disease (aCKD), and chronic hemodialysis (HD). Data was collected from patients' electronic records.
RESULTS: The majority (73.3%) of the study population were chronic hemodialysis patients. The overall in-hospital mortality was high (35.8%), and differed significantly among groups: 82.1%, 57.9% and 22.5% in the AKI, aCKD, and HD patients, respectively (p<0.001). After 12 months, death occurred in almost 30% of the reached patients, of whom the majority were from the chronic hemodialysis group.
CONCLUSION: Dialysis-dependent patients experience high mortality during COVID-19, especially those who develop AKI and aCKD. Chronic hemodialysis patients are exposed to better in-hospital survival; however, their one-year mortality remains significant.
Keywords: COVID-19, acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, exacerbation of chronic kidney disease, hemodialysis