Health

Studies show the effect of COVID-19 on the risk of hospitalization for CKD

Patients with COVID-19 and end-stage renal disease were 11 times more likely to be hospitalized than patients without renal disease.

Analysis of Geisinger’s electronic health records shows that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major risk factor for hospitalization for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

A team of Gaisinger researchers investigated the health records of 12,971 people tested for COVID-19 within the Gaizinger system from March 7 to May 19. Of this group, 1604 were COVID positive and 354 required hospitalization. The team analyzed records of specific clinical conditions, including renal, cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic conditions, associated with COVID-19 hospitalization.

Overall, CKD was most strongly associated with hospitalization, with COVID-19 patients with end-stage renal disease 11 times more likely to be hospitalized than patients without renal disease.

The results were published in PLOS ONE..

“Previous studies have identified a variety of health conditions associated with increased risk of COVID-related hospitalization, such as diabetes, heart failure, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. What is important here is the magnitude of kidney disease-related risk. Alex Chan, Doctor of Medicine, Gaisinger Nephrologist, Co-Director of Gaisinger Kidney Health Institute, Said in a statement.. “These findings highlight the need to prevent COVID-19-related illnesses in patients with kidney disease and other high-risk conditions.”

It is not yet completely clear how the underlying medical condition increases the risk of COVID-19-related complications. However, the study found that the physiological stress caused by an excessive inflammatory response to COVID-19 infection could destabilize organs already weakened by chronic disease, or that viral organ damage was these. It suggests that it may act as a “second hit” to the organ.

“In line with this hypothesis, the kidneys and heart are one of the tissues with the highest expression of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, ACE2,” the team wrote.

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Studies show the effect of COVID-19 on the risk of hospitalization for CKD