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Published on: June 16, 2014
The Influences of COVID-19 on Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study
Zheng Jiang1,2,3, Jiang Liu2,3, Lei Geng2,3
1West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, particularly those with advanced stages (3-5). These patients experienced more anxiety and disruptions to their medical care compared to early-stage CKD patients.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Public Health
- Psychology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare, affecting chronic disease management.
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients faced challenges in maintaining regular follow-ups during lockdowns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the illness, daily life, and psychological well-being of CKD patients.
- To compare these impacts between different stages of CKD.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based study involving 612 CKD patients across five nephrology centers.
- Patients were divided into CKD stages 1-2 and 3-5 groups.
- The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) was used to assess anxiety levels.
Main Results:
- Patients with CKD stages 3-5 were more likely to reduce follow-up frequency (42.7%) compared to stages 1-2 (34%).
- CKD stages 3-5 patients reported higher anxiety, fear of infection, and worsening symptoms.
- Significantly higher anxiety scores (SAS) were observed in the CKD stages 3-5 group (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected CKD patients with advanced stages (3-5).
- CKD stages 3-5 patients experienced greater disruptions in illness management, daily life, and psychological health.
- Advanced CKD patients exhibited heightened anxiety during the pandemic.
Abstract:
Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has attracted global attention. During the lockdown period of COVID-19, follow-up of many patients with chronic disease had been interrupted, which brought severe challenges to better management of their disease. This study aimed at exploring the change of illness, daily life, and psychological responses during the COVID-19 pandemic among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Methods: A total of 612 patients were enrolled in this study; 282 patients were categorized into the CKD stage 1-2 group and 330 patients were categorized into the CKD stage 3-5 group. Among two groups, 168 (27.5%) and 177 (28.9%) patients were female with a median age of 42 and 45, respectively. The study was conducted by collecting the questionnaires in five nephrology centers. The questionnaire consisted of assessment of anxiety by using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and the influences of COVID-19, which included basic demographic data, the influences of COVID-19 on illness and daily life, as well as the patients' psychological responses during the epidemic. Results: A total of 612 patients were included and divided into two groups according to eGFR. Ninety-six patients (34%) in the CKD stage 1-2 group and 141 patients (42.7%) in the CKD stage 3-5 group had reduced their follow-up frequency (p = 0.031). More patients with CKD stages 1-2 consulted online (25.9%), p = 0.005. Besides, patients in the CKD stage 3-5 group tended to be more anxious about follow-up (p = 0.002), fearful of being infected with COVID-19 (p = 0.009), and more likely to feel symptoms getting worse (p = 0.006). The standard scores of SAS were 48.58 ± 7.082 and 51.19 ± 5.944 in the CKD stage 1-2 group and the CKD stage 3-5 group, respectively (p < 0.001). There were significant differences in the severity of anxiety (p = 0.004). Conclusion: COVID-19 had a greater impact on patients with CKD stages 3-5 than those with stages 1-2 in terms of illness, daily life, and psychological disorder. Patients with CKD stages 3-5 were more anxious during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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