Dialysis During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences from 4 Dialysis Centers in Iran

Background: Despite all of the research on the risk factors for severe COVID-19, there are still many unknowns about the course of COVID-19 in various populations. Inevitable exposure of dialysis patients, one of the more vulnerable groups for infectious diseases, to COVID-19 concerns many researchers. Furthermore, studies on the mortality rate and risk factors regarding dialysis patients are somewhat inconsistent. Also, it has been suggested that factors such as ethnicity can contribute to that matter. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the mortality rate of dialysis patients who contracted COVID-19 in the Iranian population. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we presented the experiences of 4 dialysis centers with a total of 309 dialysis patients (Tehran, Iran) during the COVID-19 pandemic to assess the mortality rate and associated risk factors. Results: Among 309 dialysis patients, 58 patients contracted the disease, and the total mortality rate in this study was 41%. It was observed that although the guidelines for screening patients were similar in these 4 centers, the centers with regular COVID-19 screening for staff members had much lower mortality and infection rate. The most common symptoms in patients were fever, dry cough, and chills. Furthermore, comorbidities such as diabetes can also increase the risk of mortality. Conclusions: This study, along with other studies, can be utilized in developing guidelines for dialysis centers in the COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics.