Recent research has revealed elevated risks of death in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic for each COVID-19–positive and other patients on hemodialysis compared with hemodialysis patients treated in 2019. The findings can be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2022 November 3–November 6.

The study relied on data from 63,216 patients undergoing hemodialysis in 2019–2020 at NephroCare centers of 23 countries in European and Middle East countries.

According to two waves of the pandemic in the overall population, two fluctuations of mortality risk were observed for each COVID-19–positive and other patients on hemodialysis (patients with out a documented COVID-19 infection in Fresenius Medical Care’s electronic health record system). Compared with hemodialysis patients treated in 2019, the mortality risk of COVID-19–positive patients on dialysis continued at much higher levels across 2020 (greater than 6.5-fold), whereas the mortality risk of other patients on dialysis was elevated barely (lower than 1.5-fold) and mainly in the course of the pandemic peak periods.

The COVID-19 pandemic had direct and indirect impact on the mortality of hemodialysis patients. Potential reasons of the increased mortality amongst patients without confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis may very well be undertesting or healthcare system capability constraints. Quantifying the magnitude of pandemic effects on patients with and without confirmed disease may profit dialysis clinics to administer patients during critical events.”

Yan Zhang, PhD, Corresponding Writer, Fresenius Medical Care

Source:

American Society of Nephrology