Clinical triage of patients on kidney replacement therapy presenting with COVID-19: an ERACODA registry analysis

Rationale & Objective. Patients on kidney replacement therapy (KRT) are at a very high risk of COVID-19. Triage pathway for KRT patients presenting with varying severity of COVID-19 illness remains ill-defined. We studied clinical characteristics of patients at initial and subsequent hospital presentations and its impact on patient outcomes. Study Design, Setting, Participants. European Renal Association COVID-19 Database (ERACODA) was analysed for clinical and laboratory features of 1423 KRT patients with COVID-19 either hospitalized or non-hospitalized during first presentation and those representing after non-admission at initial triage. Predictors of outcomes (Hospitalisation, 28-day mortality) were determined for those not hospitalized at first presentation. Results. Amongst 1423 KRT patients with COVID-19 (Hemodialysis=1017/Transplant=406), 25% (n=355) were not hospitalized at first presentation (30% Hemodialysis/13% Transplant). Of these non-hospitalized patients, 10% (n=36) re-presented second time, with a 5-day median interval between two presentations (Interquartile interval 2-7 days). Patients who re-presented had worsening respiratory symptoms, a fall in oxygen saturation (97% vs. 90%) and rise in C-reactive protein between attendances (26 vs. 73 mg/L). Patients on second presentation were older (72 vs. 63 years), had early respiratory symptoms and lung imaging abnormalities compared with those who did not return second time. The 28-day mortality for those admitted at first or second presentations was not significantly different (25% vs. 29%, p=0.6). Higher age, prior smoking history, higher clinical frailty score and self-reported shortness of breath at first presentation, were identified as predictors of mortality in those discharged at initial triage. Conclusions. The study provides evidence that KRT patients with COVID-19 and mild pulmonary abnormalities with lack of pulmonary insufficiency can be safely discharged, with vigilance of respiratory symptoms, especially in those with risk factors for poor outcomes. Our findings support a risk-stratified clinical approach to admissions and discharges of KRT patients presenting with COVID-19, to aid clinical triage and optimise resource utilisation during the ongoing pandemic.