Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease During Pandemic Conditions-A Single-Center Experience

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nephrology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence is rising globally, including in children.
• Early diagnosis of pediatric CKD is crucial but challenging.
• External factors, like the COVID-19 pandemic, may disrupt diagnostic pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD).
• To compare CKD diagnosis in children before and during/after the pandemic.
• To analyze CKD stage, underlying causes, and sex differences at diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 154 pediatric CKD patients.
• Comparison of prepandemic (2015-2019) and pandemic/postpandemic (2020-2024) cohorts.
• Evaluation of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), CKD stage, etiology, and sex.

Main Results:

• Comparable numbers of pediatric CKD diagnoses between periods.
• Higher proportion of advanced CKD stages in the pandemic/postpandemic cohort.
• Increased incidence of glomerulopathies, acute kidney injury, and unknown CKD causes during the pandemic.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic likely delayed pediatric CKD diagnosis.
• Reduced primary care access and disrupted check-ups may be contributing factors.
• This highlights potential long-term impacts on pediatric kidney health surveillance.