Outcomes of COVID‑19 in hospitalized kidney and liver transplant recipients: a single‑center experience

Abstract

Introduction: Solid organ transplant recipients seem to be more susceptible to severe COVID-19. Objectives: Our study aimed to assess the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in kidney (KTRs) and liver transplant recipients (LTRs). Patients and methods: In this single-center study, the medical records of KTRs and LTRs with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 admitted between November 9, 2020 and February 26, 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Overall, 41 patients, including 32 KTRs (78%), one kidney-pancreas transplant recipient (2.4%), and 8 LTRs (19.5%) were included. Seven patients (17%) experienced COVID-19 in the first month after transplantation. Among the KTRs, 72% were male and the median (interquartile range) age was 54 (47–62) years. During a median (interquartile range) of 12 (8–18) days of hospital stay, 72.7% of the KTRs experienced acute kidney injury, 45.5% developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and 30.3% died. Baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, respiratory rate on admission, and diabetes mellitus constituted independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality in the KTRs. The LTRs experienced relatively mild COVID-19: only 2 patients (25%) required oxygen supplementation and a single patient (12.5%) died of severe ARDS. Conclusion: In summary, hospitalized KTRs with COVID-19 are at a high risk of acute kidney injury, ARDS, and death.