Study Sounds Alarm That COVID-19 Is Causing Decline in Kidney Function

Medical News: A groundbreaking study from Sweden has uncovered alarming evidence that COVID-19 infection can accelerate the deterioration of kidney function at a much faster rate compared to other respiratory infections, such as pneumonia. The findings, based on data from more than 170,000 individuals, highlight the long-term implications of COVID-19 on kidney health, particularly for those who experienced severe forms of the disease.


Study Sounds Alarm That COVID-19 Is Causing Decline in Kidney Function

The research, conducted by experts from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and collaborators from institutions including the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK), Barts Health NHS Trust (UK), Paris-Saclay University (France), Instituto Nacional de Pediatría (Mexico), and others, analyzed health records from Stockholm’s comprehensive database, the Stockholm Creatinine Measurements (SCREAM) Project. Their results revealed a concerning trend: patients recovering from COVID-19 experienced a significantly more rapid decline in kidney function than those recovering from pneumonia. This Medical News report delves into the key findings and implications of the study.
 
Study Highlights Alarming Kidney Function Decline
The research tracked the kidney health of 134,565 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 and compared them to 35,987 individuals who had pneumonia. All participants had their kidney function monitored using a standard measure known as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which assesses how well kidneys filter blood. The findings showed that, on average, COVID-19 patients experienced a 3.4% annual decline in kidney function, compared to a 2.3% decline among pneumonia patients. For those who were hospitalized with COVID-19, the rate of kidney function loss jumped to 5.4% annually.
 
Dr. Viyaasan Mahalingasivam, the lead researcher, emphasized the significance of these findings: “COVID-19’s impact on kidney health appears to extend beyond the acute phase of the infection, especially for patients with severe disease. This could have long-term consequences for kidney disease management and healthcare planning.” The researchers tracked patients during the wild-type, Alpha, and Delta COVID-19 variants, stopping just before the emergence of Omicron in late 2021.
 
The Connection Between COVID-19 and Kidney Health
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, affecting nearly 30% of severe cases. While the connection between COVID-19 and kidney damage has been observed since the early days of the pandemic, this study provides a clearer picture of its long-term effects. The team found that individuals who had been hospitalized for COVID-19 showed a much steeper decline in eGFR post-infection compared to those hospitalized for pneumonia.
 
According to Dr. Juan-Jesús Carrero, one of the study authors, “Our findings suggest that COVID-19 poses a unique risk to kidney health, potentially accelerating the progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in vulnerable individuals.”
 
Study Methods and Data Analysis
The SCREAM Project provided the team with a wealth of data, including kidney function tests performed before and after COVID-19 or pneumonia infections. The study included adults aged 18 and older who had at least one eGFR measurement within two years before their infection. The researchers excluded individuals who were on dialysis at the time of infection.
 
Using advanced statistical models, they calculated the average annual decline in kidney function before and after infection, adjusting for factors like age, sex, baseline kidney function, and comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension. They also compared the outcomes between hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients to understand how disease severity influenced kidney health.
 
Key Findings
-Accelerated Kidney Decline Post-COVID-19: COVID-19 survivors experienced an average annual eGFR decline of 3.4%, compared to 2.3% in pneumonia survivors. Among those hospitalized for COVID-19, the rate was even higher at 5.4%.
 
-Hospitalization as a Major Risk Factor: Both COVID-19 and pneumonia patients who were hospitalized showed greater declines in kidney function than non-hospitalized patients, but the effect was more pronounced in COVID-19 cases.
 
-Persistent Risk Beyond Acute Illness: Even months after recovery, COVID-19 survivors continued to show faster kidney function decline compared to pneumonia survivors.
 
Implications for Healthcare
These findings underline the importance of monitoring kidney health in COVID-19 survivors, particularly those who were hospitalized. Early detection of kidney function decline can enable timely interventions to slow the progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and reduce the risk of complications such as kidney failure and cardiovascular disease.
 
“Clinicians should consider regular kidney function testing for COVID-19 survivors, especially those with pre-existing risk factors or severe illness,” says Dr. Mahalingasivam. The study also highlights the need for healthcare systems to prepare for an increased burden of CKD in the aftermath of the pandemic.
 
Study Strengths and Limitations
One of the strengths of the study is its large sample size and use of comprehensive, real-world health data from the Stockholm region. The analysis also accounted for a wide range of confounding factors, making the findings robust and generalizable.
 
However, the researchers acknowledge some limitations. The study did not include data on ethnicity or body mass index, which are known to influence kidney health. Additionally, the follow-up period was relatively short, and longer-term studies are needed to fully understand the lasting impact of COVID-19 on kidney function.
 
Conclusions
The findings of this study paint a stark picture of the long-term impact of COVID-19 on kidney health. Unlike other respiratory infections, COVID-19 appears to accelerate kidney function decline, particularly in individuals who were hospitalized. This underscores the importance of proactive monitoring and management of kidney health in COVID-19 survivors.
 
Healthcare providers should prioritize kidney function testing for these individuals and implement strategies to mitigate further decline, such as lifestyle interventions, medication adjustments, and regular follow-ups. Policymakers should also consider the long-term implications of COVID-19 on kidney disease prevalence when planning healthcare resources and services.
 
In summary, the study provides crucial evidence that COVID-19’s effects extend far beyond the respiratory system, with potentially serious consequences for kidney health. As Dr. Carrero aptly concludes, “By recognizing and addressing these risks early, we can improve outcomes for COVID-19 survivors and reduce the burden on healthcare systems.”
 
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: JAMA Network Open.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2828493
 
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-induced-endothelial-dysfunction-will-lead-to-a-pandemic-of-chronic-kidney-and-cardiovascular-diseases
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/doctors-from-turkey-warns-that-children-exposed-to-sars-cov-2-are-at-risk-of-acute-kidney-injury
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-boosts-kidney-injury-risk-in-type-2-diabetes-patients
 
(Please refer to TMN Website as there are more than 43 studies with regards to COVID-19 infections causing kidney damage)