Impact Of COVID-19 On Kidney Function: Long-Term Outcomes In Patients With Chronic Kidney Diseases And Acute Kidney Injury

Original Article

Abstract

Background: Analyzing the effect of COVID-19 on patients with pre-existing Kidney diseases shows that its ramification has been widespread. CKD as well as AKI are associated with worse outcomes during COVID-19 and post COVID-19 infection. Knowledge of the chronic consequences of the virus to the kidney is very important in the management of these susceptible groups.

Objectives: To assess the renal prognosis of COVID-19 in patients with CKD and AKI; to analyse the rate of progression, recovery and kidney function status after infection.

Study Design: A prospective study.

Duration and place study. Department of Medicine-B, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar from Jan 2020 to Jan 2023

Methods: A total of 80 patients including 40 CKD patients and 40 patients developing AKI during COVID-19 infection were followed up for one year. The renal function was evaluated based on serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, GFR and proteinuria after each three months. Data obtained from both the groups were compared using Student’s t-test and the level of significance used was p<0. 05.

Results: Outcomes on CKD patients mean GFR decreased by 12. 3 mL/min/1. 73m² (SD ± 4. 2) than 5. 7 mL/min/1. 73m² (SD ± 3. 5) of AKI group (p = 0. 01). The daily proteinuria was also, higher in the CKD group (2. 3 ± 0. 8 g/day) than that in the AKI group (1. 1 ± 0. 6 g/day, p=0. 03). Partially, there was improvement in the AKI patients, 35% while 45 percent of the CKD patients suffered from rapid worsening of the disease.

Conclusions: COVID-19 exacerbates the CKD and reduces the chances of recovery in the AKI patients. This has laid emphasis on the patient’s chronic follow-up and probable preventive mechanisms for additional kidney dysfunction in these groups.