COVID-19 Pandemic and the Burden of Acute Kidney Injury: The Known and the Unknown

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), or COVID-19, pandemic has caused widespread morbidity and mortality globally.
• While primarily affecting the pulmonary system, COVID-19 also impacts other organs, including the kidneys.
• The precise mechanisms of COVID-19-induced renal damage and the extent of renal failure remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on kidney function.
• To explore the implications of COVID-19-related renal complications for public health.
• To synthesize current knowledge on acute kidney injury (AKI) in COVID-19 patients.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search of PubMed and other web sources was conducted.
• Keywords included: COVID-19, acute kidney injury, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, chronic kidney disease, renal replacement therapy, and dialysis.
• The review focused on published literature from 2019 to the present.

Main Results:

• COVID-19 is associated with significant renal involvement, including acute kidney injury.
• Elevated creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels are observed in affected patients.
• The pandemic's influence on chronic kidney disease and the need for renal replacement therapy are areas of concern.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic poses a substantial threat to kidney health, necessitating further research into pathogenesis and treatment.
• Understanding the magnitude of renal failure is critical for effective public health strategies.
• The long-term implications for kidney disease burden and renal replacement therapy demand attention.