ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Abstract: PUB001

Epidemiology of Patients with CKD from Eastern North Carolina (ENC) Hospitalized with COVID-19

Session Information

Category: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

  • 000 Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Author

  • Lawson, Cameron T., East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States
Background

Early meta-analysis by Jdiaa et al showed that patients with CKD were more likely to have worse outcomes from COVID–19 compared to patients with normal renal function. To our knowledge, a similar retrospective analysis of COVID-19 positive patients hospitalized in Eastern North Carolina has not been replicated. Our study aimed to describe demographics and compare outcomes of COVID-19 positive patients with and without baseline CKD hospitalized within the ECU Health System.

Methods

This retrospective, observational study involved a review of data from electronic health records of patients aged > 18 years with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to one of the ECU Health Systems from March to October 2020. We described patients’ demographics, comorbidities, length of stay, disposition, and mortality. We further subcategorized patients into two groups: those with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) > 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and a second group with GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Categorical variables were compared by Chi-squared while continuous variables were compared by Mann-Whitney U Test and reported as medians with interquartile ranges (IQR). The Institutional Review Board of ECU Health approved the study protocol before the study began.

Results

Of the 446 hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients, the median age was 64.5 years, 49% were African American, followed by 30% Caucasians. 43% of the patients had underlying CKD at least stage IIIa and 6% had end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as per Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines. The median BMI was 30 kg/m2 and 40% had tobacco exposure. Patients with GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 were mostly older > 70 years old, African-American (p-value <0.001), had underlying DM, HTN, and were more likely to be discharged to a skilled nursing facility (p-value <0.001). Patients who had GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 had a higher risk of in-hospital death compared to those with GFR> 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (p-value <0.001).

Conclusion

Our data demonstrated higher mortality rates in COVID-19 positive African-American patients with GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. It has been previously shown that ENC has a higher concentration of lower socioeconomic counties and an overall higher comorbidity index. Further data analysis is needed to determine if a GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 conveys an additional mortality risk outside the lower socioeconomic status.