Dialysis, transplantation and COVID-19
Patients, who are receiving renal replacement therapy (hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, transplantation) are in a great risk of catching COVID-19!
Why does that happen? Being infected with SARS-CoV-2 causes the virus to enter the cells and start viral replication (reproduction), causing damage to all organs and systems of the organism. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is known to be characterized by a decreased immune response and systemic inflammation, which increases the replication of the virus. In addition, complications of CKD and the presence of other diseases contribute to the development of severe complications and mortality from COVID-19. Preliminary data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), analyzed 7,162 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States and has proven that patients with CDK are 12 times more likely to be hospitalized in the intensive care unit and 9 times more likely to be hospitalized in infectious hospitals.
The number of infected people who are currently undergoing dialysis and with a kidney transplant, who are currently living in different European countries and were affected by COVID-19 can be viewed by clicking on the link located on the picture below.
