Kidney Function Decline After COVID-19 Infection
Author Information
Author(s): Mahalingasivam Viyaasan MPhil, Faucon Anne-Laure MD PhD, Sjölander Arvid PhD, Bosi Alessandro MSc, González-Ortiz Ailema PhD, Lando Stefania MSc, Fu Edouard L. PhD, Nitsch Dorothea PhD, Bruchfeld Annette PhD, Evans Marie PhD, Wing Kevin PhD, Mansfield Kathryn E. PhD, Tomlinson Laurie PhD, Carrero Juan-Jesús PhD
Primary Institution: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Hypothesis
Is there an acceleration in kidney function decline after COVID-19 infection and does it differ from after other lung infections?
Conclusion
This study found an association between COVID-19 and accelerated decline in kidney function, particularly after hospitalization, compared with pneumonia.
Supporting Evidence
- There was a greater annual decline in kidney function after COVID-19 compared with after pneumonia.
- This decline was greater among people who were hospitalized for COVID-19.
- COVID-19 infection has been associated with acute kidney injury.
- Individuals hospitalized for COVID-19 should receive closer monitoring of kidney function.
Takeaway
People who get COVID-19 might have their kidneys get worse faster than those who get pneumonia, especially if they had to go to the hospital.
Methodology
This cohort study used linked data from the Stockholm Creatinine Measurements (SCREAM) Project to analyze kidney function decline in individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 and pneumonia.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of hospitalization status and exclusion of individuals without creatinine testing may introduce bias.
Limitations
The study lacks information on important confounders such as ethnicity and body mass index, and the follow-up period may be too short to fully evaluate long-term kidney function outcomes.
Participant Demographics
The COVID-19 cohort included 55.6% females with a median age of 51 years, while the pneumonia cohort included 53.8% females with a median age of 71 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
1.19 (95% CI, 1.07-1.34)
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 3.2%-3.5%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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