Shortened Survival of Chronic Hemodialysis Patients during Quarantine Periods of COVID-19. A Retrospective Analysis of 344 Patients

Abstract

Abstract Background. COVID-19 pandemic impact on patients’ populations could be divided to direct consequences of the disease and indirect implications of changes imposed upon the national healthcare systems, e.g., large-scale quarantines. The impact of the later on survival of chronic hemodialysis patients is still unknown. Methods. We employed a retrospective, case-controlled study comparing a population of chronic hemodialysis patients from two separate time-frames: during a quarantine period and a parallel time without quarantine. Results. This study included 344 hemodialysis patients, baseline characteristics were compared between those enrolled in 2015 and 2020. Despite comparable clinical parameters, a statistically significant increase in the 6-month mortality rate was observed in 2020 (1.2% to 6.7%, p = 0.01), primarily attributed to sepsis. Notably, no deaths were attributed to COVID-19 in 2020. Interdialytic weight gain and dialysis quality remained similar between the two groups, with a mild trend towards excessive weight gain in 2020. Secondary outcomes after 6 months did not significantly differ, except for lower sodium values in 2015 compared to 2020. Conclusions. In this study, dialysis patients experienced disproportionate effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, even with continuous care and no direct virus-related fatalities. The findings unveil unintended consequences of quarantine measures, highlighting adverse impacts on both physical and mental health. Recognizing and addressing these consequences are imperative for minimizing their impact in future pandemics, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures in healthcare planning.