Background: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a lung disease that also negatively affects several organ systems. Patients with COVID-19 frequently have kidney dysfunction. The exact impact of proteinuria and its degree on the clinical outcome of patients with COVID-19 is unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of different degrees of proteinuria on the clinical outcome of hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Patients and methods: This study included 100 patients with COVID-19 at Isolation Department, Zagazig University and Al-Ahrar Teaching Hospitals who presented with proteinuria on admission. Patients were divided into two groups based on their urine protein creatinine ratio (UPCR): those with UPCR less than 1gm and those with UPCR greater than 1gm.

Results: There is a statistically significant relation between the two groups regarding neutrophil count (p=0.027) (higher in patients with UPCR > 1gm), and lymphocytes (p=0.003) (lower in patients with UPCR > 1gm). There is a statically significant relation between the degree of proteinuria and the incidence of acute kidney injury (p<0.001) (proteinuria higher in those who developed AKI). Also, there is a significant difference between the two groups regarding the conscious level (p=0.019) (disturbed conscious level more in patients with UPCR >1gm).

Conclusion: Proteinuria in COVID-19 hospitalized patients is associated with poor clinical outcomes and could lead to further renal deterioration and AKI, so it is important to screen for it.