Prevalence and Pattern of COVID-19 Infection Among Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected health care across the globe. Since the initiation of the pandemic, there have been
significant changes in the approach toward kidney transplantation and the management of COVID-19 infection among transplant recipients.
Data on the prevalence, risk factors, presentation, and management of kidney transplant subjects has been less, especially from India. Hence
the current study was undertaken. The current study was done with the aim of knowing the prevalence and pattern of COVID-19 infection.
The study was carried out in the Department of Nephrology at a tertiary care centre named NRI. Medical College, Mangalagiri, Andhra
Pradesh, India on 100 renal transplant recipients. Male and female patients aged above 18 years. admitted to the nephrology department
at NRI Medical College, who underwent renal transplantation previously, and who provided informed consent were taken as the source
of study patients. This case-control study was done for 12 months from October 2021 to September 2022. All parameters were compared
between cases and controls. Results showed that the prevalence of COVID-19 was 22%. There was a significant difference in the mean
age, ESR, CRP levels, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and death rate between cases and controls. The mean duration of hospitalization
and death rate were significantly higher among cases compared to controls. The need for admission and mechanical ventilation was also
significantly higher among cases compared to controls. There was no significant difference in gender between cases and controls. Most of
the cases had clinical symptoms like dyspnoea and dry cough. Most of the controls had myalgia and easy fatigability. The mean no of
comorbidities was 3.4±0.9 and the mean no of comorbidities among controls was 1.8±1.1 Mean number of comorbidities among cases was
significantly higher compared to controls. In conclusion, there was a significant difference in adverse outcomes like ICU admission, need
for mechanical ventilation, and mortality between renal transplantation patients with COVID-19 and those without COVID-19.