COVID-19 infection in patients with ESRD requiring hemodialysis

Background: This case series assesses characteristics and outcomes of patients with confirmed novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) infection and end stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring hemodialysis during the COVID-19 pandemic Methods: This is a single center retrospective study of 24 ESRD patients on hemodialysis who were admitted to Saint Barnabas Medical Center, a 597-bed acute care hospital in Livingston, New Jersey, and with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis between February 1st to April 5th, 2020 The characteristics, clinical course, and outcome were assessed and compared In addition, a subgroup analysis was made between patients who expired (n=8) versus those who lived (n=16) Results: The overall mortality rate was 33 3% vs 21% in the general population with COVID-19 Among the 4 (16%) patients who required ICU admission and prolonged pressor support and invasive mechanical ventilation, 2 (50%) patients were successfully extubated and discharged from the hospital while the other 2 (50%) patients died There were no statistical differences in laboratory values between patients who survived versus patients who died except C-reactive protein (CRP), p=0 002 Conclusions: We report a mortality rate of 33 3% in our case series of 24 patients with ESRD on dialysis with concurrent COVID-19 infection There was a statistical difference in CRP value between patients who died versus survived Fifty percent of intubated patients were successfully extubated and discharged