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. 2023 Aug;38(8):2801-2808.
doi: 10.1007/s00467-023-05902-4. Epub 2023 Mar 2.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on body mass index in children and adolescents after kidney transplantation

Nele Kirsten Kanzelmeyer  1 , Friederike Weigel  2 , Johannes Boeckenhauer  3 , Dieter Haffner  4 , Jun Oh  3 , Raphael Schild  3
Affiliations

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on body mass index in children and adolescents after kidney transplantation

Nele Kirsten Kanzelmeyer et al. Pediatr Nephrol. 2023 Aug.

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) pandemic affected lifestyles and resulted in significant weight gain in the general population. Its impact on children after kidney transplantation (KTx) is unknown.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated body mass index (BMI) z-scores during the COVID-19 pandemic in 132 pediatric KTx patients, followed-up at three German hospitals. Among those, serial blood pressure measurements were available for 104 patients. Lipid measurements were available from 74 patients. Patients were categorized according to gender and age group, i.e., children versus adolescents. Data were analyzed by a linear mixed model approach.

Results: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, female adolescents presented with higher mean BMI z-scores compared to male adolescents (difference: - 1.05, 95% CI - 1.86 to - 0.24, p = 0.004). No other significant differences could be observed among the other groups. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mean BMI z-score increased in adolescents (difference: male, 0.23, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.28; female 0.21, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.29, each p < 0.001), but not in children. The BMI z-score was associated with adolescent age, and with the combination of adolescent age, female gender, and the duration of the pandemic (each p < 0.05). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mean systolic blood pressure z-score significantly increased in female adolescents (difference: 0.47, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.49).

Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescents in particular showed a significant increase in their BMI z-score after KTx. Additionally, an increase in systolic blood pressure was associated with female adolescents. The findings suggest additional cardiovascular risks in this cohort. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Keywords: Adolescents; Blood pressure; COVID-19; Children; Kidney transplantation; Weight.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

None
A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Course of BMI z-score
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Course of systolic blood pressure z-score
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Course of diastolic blood pressure z-score
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Course of cholesterol z-score
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Course of LDL z-score
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Course of HDL z-score
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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