A narrative review of care for patients on maintenance kidney replacement therapy during the COVID-19 era

COVID-19 has inflicted the whole world since the end of 2019 and may transform the provision of care of kidney replacement therapy (KRT). This narrative review aimed to summarize the impacts of COVID-19 on the continuity of KRT and the strategies healthcare facilities adopted to ensure the accessibility and continuity of the care. Management for KRT patients infected with COVID-19 was not within the scope of this review. We searched online publications in PubMed and Sinomed before November 2020, using search terms "COVID-19", "care", and "kidney replacement therapy". We found that COVID-19 affected the care cascade of KRT, the choice of treatment modalities, and self-care of individuals on maintenance treatment. Healthcare providers adopted the strategies including preventing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), using telehealth in the care cascade, and patients' health education and psychosocial support. We concluded that the pandemic has challenged the current provision of care and has a profound influence on the convey of renal care. © 2021 Pediatric Medicine.