Background: The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has reached unknown dimensions and is overwhelming societies, politics, medical systems and, in particular, intensive care unit and ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Objective: To study the incidence, characteristics, and outcome of COVID-19 infection on MHD patients and its effect on Erythropoitein (ESA) response.
Patients and Methods: This study was done at SayedGalalUniversityHospital during the period between January 2021 to April 2021. A total of 90 MHD patients were recruited for this survey. Their anthropometrics and laboratory data were collected. Twenty patients were infected by COVID-19, and 70 patients were free from covid-19 infection. EPO responsiveness was evaluated by the erythropoietin resistance index (ERI). Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate the incidence, characteristics, and outcome of COVID-19 infection in hemodialysis patients and its effect on ESA response.
Results: Two patients had home isolation; 18 patients had been admitted to the Hospital. Of them, 14 patients had been admitted to ICU. The mortality rate (cause specific mortality rate) of COVID 19 infection among those hemodialysis patients was 20%.
Conclusion: COVID 19 infection among hemodialysis patients was correlated with higher hospital admission, ICU admission and higher mortality rate, and also higher erythropoietin resistance index (ERI) and lower erythropoietin responsiveness.