Pattern and Outcome of COVID -19 in Kidney Transplant Recipients Admitted in a Tertiary Care Centre during the Second Wave of the Pandemic in India: A Retrospective Study

Background and Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) is associated with an increased risk of complications than in the general population. The double mutant variant of the coronavirus was responsible for the deadly second wave of the pandemic in India. So, we conducted this retrospective case study to look for the pattern and outcome of the hospitalized KTR affected with COVID-19 in our tertiary care center during the second wave.

Study Design: This was single centre retrospective study.

Place and Duration of Study: COVID-19 affected KTR admitted to Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi during the second wave of the pandemic in the months of April and May 2021 were included in the study.

Materials and Methods: All the necessary data were taken from the computerised records. Clinical and biochemical characteristics of the survivors and non-survivors were studied. The factors associated mortality were analysed.

Results: Out of the 16 participants, all were males. The mean age of the population was 52.50±14.39 years. Overall mortality was 31.3% (Five out of 16). The oxygen saturation at presentation, computed tomography severity scores (CTSS) and the level of inflammatory markers were significantly different between the groups (P<0.05). The ratio of absolute neutrophil count to absolute lymphocyte count (ANC/ALC) was significantly higher in the non-survivors. No difference was noted as far as vaccination status was concerned.

Conclusions: Covid-19 during the second wave was more infectious and virulent than during the first wave. Higher CT severity score on presentation, raised inflammatory markers and a higher neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio should alert the clinician about the probable adverse outcome. Further large-scale multicentre studies are needed to accurately characterise the role of vaccines in the KTR population.