Published online Sep 25, 2022. doi: 10.5501/wjv.v11.i5.352
Peer-review started: February 1, 2022
First decision: April 8, 2022
Revised: May 20, 2022
Accepted: July 25, 2022
Article in press: July 25, 2022
Published online: September 25, 2022
Processing time: 234 Days and 11.8 Hours
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been the most talked-about disease of the past few years. Patients with significant comorbidities have been at particular risk of adverse outcomes. We looked at the outcomes and risk factors for adverse outcomes among patients on chronic hemodialysis.
The authors assess outcomes and risk factors for adverse outcomes of COVID-19 infection among patients on chronic hemodialysis.
The objective of this study is to assess outcomes and risk factors for adverse outcomes of COVID-19 infection among patients on chronic hemodialysis.
The authors searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Reference Citation Analysis (https://www.referencecitationanalysis.com/) and Web of Science databases for relevant terms and imported the results into the Covidence platform. From there, studies were assessed in two stages for relevance and quality, and data from studies that satisfied all the requirements were extracted into a spreadsheet. The data was then analyzed descriptively and statistically.
Of the 920 studies identified through the initial database search, only 17 were included in the final analysis. The studies included in the analysis were mostly carried out during the first wave. The authors found that COVID-19 incidence among patients on hemodialysis was significant, over 10% in some studies. Those who developed COVID-19 infection were most likely going to be hospitalized, and over 1 in 5 died from the infection. ICU admission rate was lower than the infection lethality rate. Biochemical abnormalities and dyspnea were generally reported to be associated with adverse outcomes.
This systematic review confirms that patients on chronic hemodialysis are very high-risk individuals for COVID-19 infections, and a significant proportion was infected during the first wave. Their prognosis is overall much worse than in the general population, and every effort needs to be made to decrease their exposure.
Further research can be done to assess the efficacy of protective measures and vaccines against COVID-19 among dialysis patients.