Long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection in chronic hemodialysis patients

Abstract

The long-term effects of COVID-19 infection during the 2020–2022 pandemic remain among the most poorly understood aspects to this day. Numerous secondary symptoms have been reported following acute infection, ranging from cognitive impairments such as “brain fog” to chronic shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, palpitations, and an increased incidence of cardiovascular events [1]. Studies have identified associations between patient multimorbidity and the frequency and severity of long-term consequences [2,3].

In this retrospective study, we present data from the Nephrology and Dialysis Clinic of the University Hospital “St. Marina” in Varna, where 88 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis were followed for six months after COVID-19 infection.

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between the quality of hemodialysis—measured by URR and Kt/V—and clinical outcomes, including the duration of hospitalization due to COVID-19 or its complications, the severity of the disease course, and long-term patient survival. The results indicate that patients with lower URR and Kt/V values tend to experience longer hospital stays, more severe infections, and reduced survival. Although some findings did not reach statistical significance, the data suggest a clinically meaningful association between dialysis quality and post-COVID-19 prognosis.