Predictors of In-hospital Mortality Among COVID-19-infected Chronic Kidney Disease Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on maintenance hemodialysis are highly vulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and poorer outcomes and mortality. Objectives: The study aimed at identifying the various clinical and biochemical predictors of in-hospital mortality in this particular group of patients. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the baseline demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected from patients with preexisting CKD on maintenance hemodialysis and with COVID-19 infection. The statistical analysis of the collected data was performed using SPSS version 24 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Results: The data obtained from 35 patients from the first wave of the pandemic were analyzed. The mortality rate was 23% (8 patients). Analyzing the comparison between survivors and non-survivors revealed that the older age (49 [IQR, 42 – 55] years vs. 70 [IQR, 54 – 74] years, P = 0.016), severe disease at presentation (15% vs. 75%, P = 0.004), and need for invasive mechanical ventilation (0% vs. 75%, P = 0.001) were the factors significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. Among baseline biochemical markers, severe lymphocytopenia (11 [IQR, 7 – 16] vs. 4.2 [IQR, 3 – 8], P = 0.011), high serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (23 [IQR, 15.6 – 48] vs. 80 [IQR, 60- 105], P = 0.001), blood urea (71 [IQR, 28 - 120) vs. 160 (IQR, 142 - 355), P = 0.002) and higher value of inflammatory markers, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and procalcitonin, as well as fibrinogen and low baseline albumin, were also significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: The older age, severe disease at presentation, need for invasive mechanical ventilation, raised baseline IL-6, procalcitonin, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, blood urea, and lower level of albumin may have been valuable predictors of in-hospital mortality and poor outcomes in patients with COVID-19-infected chronic kidney disease on maintenance hemodialysis.