Clinical features and outcomes of 84 COVID-Positive hemodialysis patients in a resource poor setting from India

Abstract

With the declaration of severe acute respiratory syndrome novel coronavirus-2019 as pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, there has been a steady rise in number of cases. Chronic kidney disease and dialysis population are risk factors for increased severity of illness. Literature about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in dialysis population is scarce. Management of COVID-19 patients in resource poor setting in a developing country does vary compared to developed nations. Nonavailability of the advanced laboratory facility and the newer medicines forces the treating team to manage the patients with available investigations and drugs. We aimed at analysis of clinical characteristics and outcomes of 84 patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD). Data of all COVID-positive patients on maintenance HD, who were referred to our center were collected. All patients were given HD on NIKISSO machines. Outcomes of all the admitted patients were analyzed. Maintenance HD group formed majority of the kidney referrals (54%). Age group that was commonly affected was >50 years. Factors associated with mortality were age, diabetes, thrombocytopenia, prolonged baseline activated partial thromboplastin time, admission hypoxemia, high qSOFA score. Institutional Ethics Committee approval has been obtained for the study. Methodology of the study was in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Verbal consent was obtained from patients/attendants. In the ongoing COVID pandemic, in a developing nation where resources are constrained, it is difficult to salvage the critically ill patients. With the drugs available and the changing strategies, treatment was given to all the patients admitted with bedside renal replacement therapies. Our mortality rate was high compared to other studies due to delay in referral, admission hypoxemia, and late initiation of steroids.