Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of COVID-Positive Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: A Study from India.

Background: This study describes to the clinical features and outcomes of patients on maintenance hemodialysis infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) delta variant.

Materials and methods: This was a retrospective analysis of case records of patients on maintenance hemodialysis admitted for management of coronavirus disease (COVID) infection. Our teaching hospital, being a state-designated referral center, had COVID admissions from March 2020 till December 2020. Epidemiological and clinical data were collected and analyzed. Factors influencing survival and the survival curve analysis were assessed.

Results: Of a total of 21,228 admissions during the period, 400 patients were referred for nephrology services. Of the 400 referrals, 226 were maintenance hemodialysis patients. Mean age of the group was 50 years, and fever was the most common presenting symptom. On multivariate analysis, factors influencing mortality were found to be older age, presence of diabetes, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hypoxemia, need for support, and a higher qSOFA score. The probability of survival of dialysis patients at the end of 19 days was 60%.

Conclusion: During the pandemic by SARS-CoV-2 delta variant, majority of the nephrology referrals were for maintenance hemodialysis patients. Mortality was 38% in the study group, and the factors associated with mortality with a significant hazard ratio were older age and diabetes.