Is the risk for COVID-19 outcomes the same for all patients with chronic kidney disease? A retrospective study

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged at the end of 2019 and quickly spread worldwide. Among the various comorbidities associated with severe disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been identified as one of the leading conditions. However, it is not yet clear whether all stages of CKD pose the same risk for severe COVID-19 infection. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the impact of different stages of CKD on the clinical characteristics, disease progression, and outcomes of COVID-19. Methods. This retrospective study focused on CKD patients who were admitted with COVID-19. We analyzed various factors including demographic data, comorbidities, symptoms, physical findings, laboratory test results, length of hospital stay, and in-hospital outcomes. These factors were evaluated based on the different stages of CKD. Results. A total of 284 CKD patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated and compared to 395 COVID-19 patients with normal kidney function. Among the CKD patients, 86 were receiving dialysis. We observed significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, D-dimer, and ferritin, as well as a significantly lower lymphocyte count, in the CKD groups compared to the control group. There were significant differences among the CKD groups in terms of biochemical markers, duration of hospital stay, rates of ICU admission, and mortality. However, we did not find significant differences between dialysis and non-dialysis CKD patients regarding the length of hospital stay, need for ICU admission, and number of deceased patients. Conclusions. The presence and severity of CKD should be considered crucial factors for predicting the risk of COVID-19. Patients with late-stage CKD who are hospitalized with COVID-19 require increased awareness and close monitoring to reduce rates of ICU admission and mortality.