COMPARISON OF BASELINE KIDNEY FUNCTION AND CHANGES IN ESTIMATED GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE BEFORE AND DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Introduction:

COVID-19 infection can lead to both direct and indirect kidney injury, causing a decline in kidney function. We explored changes in kidney function before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

This retrospective study utilized administrative health data from Alberta, Canada, between 2018 and 2021. We included all adults residing in Alberta who had at least one annual visit to a general practitioner and underwent outpatient creatinine tests to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Data from each quarter of 2018-2019 was considered as before the pandemic, while data from each quarter of 2020-2021 was considered during COVID-19 pandemic. The primary outcome was the proportion of individuals with eGFR decline, defined by a sustained drop of ≥25% from baseline for at least three months apart. The secondary outcome was the proportion of individuals with reduced eGFR who progressed to advanced stages of kidney dysfunction (eGFR <30 ml/min/m2).

Results:

Among 214,496 and 214,103 individuals in the before and during-pandemic periods, respectively, the mean age was 58.3±17 years, and 43% were male. At baseline, 16.5% and 17.3% of individuals had a reduced eGFR of <60 ml/min/m2 before and during the pandemic. The proportion of individuals with an eGFR decline was higher during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic, particularly in the third and fourth quarters of 2020 (Q3: 3.2% vs 2.2%, Q4 3.9% vs 2.9%) (Figure 1). Of individuals with reduced baseline eGFR, the proportion of individuals who progressed to advanced stages of kidney dysfunction was higher during the pandemic, especially in all quarters of 2020 (Q2: 9.4% vs 7.2%, Q3: 11.4% vs 8.1%, Q4: 13% vs 9.5%) and the first and second quarter of 2021 (Q1: 13.3% vs 10.5%, Q2 15.6% vs 13%) (Figure 2).

Conclusions:

This study revealed a higher proportion of individuals experiencing eGFR declines and progression to advanced stages of kidney dysfunction during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic. These findings highlight the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on kidney function and emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring and management of kidney function in affected populations.

I have no potential conflict of interest to disclose.

I did not use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process.