[COVID-19 infection in chronic dialysis patients in Argentina]

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected vulnerable populations.
• Patients undergoing chronic dialysis are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes due to compromised immune systems and frequent healthcare interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report preliminary data on COVID-19 infection and mortality among patients on chronic dialysis in Argentina.
• To identify risk factors associated with COVID-19 mortality in this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the Argentine Registry of COVID in chronic dialysis from April 2020 to April 2021.
• Inclusion of all dialysis centers nationwide, covering 36,918 prevalent patients.
• Multivariate analysis to determine factors associated with mortality.

Main Results:

• 10% of prevalent dialysis patients (3709) contracted COVID-19.
• 45.2% of infected patients required hospitalization, with 39% needing ICU admission and 62% of those requiring mechanical ventilation.
• Overall mortality was 35.24%, which is 12 times higher than the general population. Key mortality factors included age >60, diabetes, longer dialysis duration, cerebrovascular disease, neoplasia, hospitalization, ICU admission, and mechanical ventilation.

Conclusions:

• Patients on chronic dialysis in Argentina represent a highly vulnerable population susceptible to severe COVID-19 outcomes and elevated mortality.
• Implementing stringent protective measures within dialysis units, optimizing patient care, and prioritizing vaccination are critical for mitigating COVID-19 impact in this group.