COVID-19 in Elderly Patients Receiving Haemodialysis: A Current Review
There is an increased incidence of elderly adults diagnosed with kidney failure as our global aging population continues to expand. Hence, the number of elderly adults indicated for kidney replacement therapy is also increasing simultaneously. Haemodialysis initiation is more commonly observed in co...
Main Authors: | , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-03-01
|
Series: | Biomedicines |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/3/926 |
_version_ | 1827751118668562432 |
---|---|
author | Thomas McDonnell Henry H. L. Wu Philip A. Kalra Rajkumar Chinnadurai |
author_facet | Thomas McDonnell Henry H. L. Wu Philip A. Kalra Rajkumar Chinnadurai |
author_sort | Thomas McDonnell |
collection | DOAJ |
description | There is an increased incidence of elderly adults diagnosed with kidney failure as our global aging population continues to expand. Hence, the number of elderly adults indicated for kidney replacement therapy is also increasing simultaneously. Haemodialysis initiation is more commonly observed in comparison to kidney transplantation and peritoneal dialysis for the elderly. The onset of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic brought new paradigms and insights for the care of this patient population. Elderly patients receiving haemodialysis have been identified as high-risk groups for poor COVID-19 outcomes. Age, immunosenescence, impaired response to COVID-19 vaccination, increased exposure to sources of COVID-19 infection and thrombotic risks during dialysis are key factors which demonstrated significant associations with COVID-19 incidence, severity and mortality for this patient group. Recent findings suggest that preventative measures such as regular screening and, if needed, isolation in COVID-19-positive cases, alongside the fulfillment of COVID-19 vaccination programs is an integral strategy to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and consequential complications from COVID-19, particularly for high-risk groups such as elderly haemodialysis patients. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about the rapid development and repurposing of a number of medications to treat patients in the viral and inflammatory stages of their disease. However, elderly haemodialysis patients were grossly unrepresented in many of these trials. We review the evidence for contemporary treatments for COVID-19 in this population to provide clinicians with an up-to-date guide. We hope our article increases awareness on the associations and impact of COVID-19 for the elderly haemodialysis population, and encourage research efforts to address knowledge gaps in this topical area. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:53:47Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-ad22b32cf64f4ca98a9b681b364c4550 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2227-9059 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:53:47Z |
publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Biomedicines |
spelling | doaj.art-ad22b32cf64f4ca98a9b681b364c45502023-11-17T09:47:39ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592023-03-0111392610.3390/biomedicines11030926COVID-19 in Elderly Patients Receiving Haemodialysis: A Current ReviewThomas McDonnell0Henry H. L. Wu1Philip A. Kalra2Rajkumar Chinnadurai3Department of Renal Medicine, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Salford M6 8HD, UKRenal Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, AustraliaDepartment of Renal Medicine, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Salford M6 8HD, UKDepartment of Renal Medicine, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Salford M6 8HD, UKThere is an increased incidence of elderly adults diagnosed with kidney failure as our global aging population continues to expand. Hence, the number of elderly adults indicated for kidney replacement therapy is also increasing simultaneously. Haemodialysis initiation is more commonly observed in comparison to kidney transplantation and peritoneal dialysis for the elderly. The onset of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic brought new paradigms and insights for the care of this patient population. Elderly patients receiving haemodialysis have been identified as high-risk groups for poor COVID-19 outcomes. Age, immunosenescence, impaired response to COVID-19 vaccination, increased exposure to sources of COVID-19 infection and thrombotic risks during dialysis are key factors which demonstrated significant associations with COVID-19 incidence, severity and mortality for this patient group. Recent findings suggest that preventative measures such as regular screening and, if needed, isolation in COVID-19-positive cases, alongside the fulfillment of COVID-19 vaccination programs is an integral strategy to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and consequential complications from COVID-19, particularly for high-risk groups such as elderly haemodialysis patients. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about the rapid development and repurposing of a number of medications to treat patients in the viral and inflammatory stages of their disease. However, elderly haemodialysis patients were grossly unrepresented in many of these trials. We review the evidence for contemporary treatments for COVID-19 in this population to provide clinicians with an up-to-date guide. We hope our article increases awareness on the associations and impact of COVID-19 for the elderly haemodialysis population, and encourage research efforts to address knowledge gaps in this topical area.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/3/926Coronavirus 2019elderly patientshaemodialysisrisk factorspathophysiologyprevention |
spellingShingle | Thomas McDonnell Henry H. L. Wu Philip A. Kalra Rajkumar Chinnadurai COVID-19 in Elderly Patients Receiving Haemodialysis: A Current Review Biomedicines Coronavirus 2019 elderly patients haemodialysis risk factors pathophysiology prevention |
title | COVID-19 in Elderly Patients Receiving Haemodialysis: A Current Review |
title_full | COVID-19 in Elderly Patients Receiving Haemodialysis: A Current Review |
title_fullStr | COVID-19 in Elderly Patients Receiving Haemodialysis: A Current Review |
title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 in Elderly Patients Receiving Haemodialysis: A Current Review |
title_short | COVID-19 in Elderly Patients Receiving Haemodialysis: A Current Review |
title_sort | covid 19 in elderly patients receiving haemodialysis a current review |
topic | Coronavirus 2019 elderly patients haemodialysis risk factors pathophysiology prevention |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/3/926 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT thomasmcdonnell covid19inelderlypatientsreceivinghaemodialysisacurrentreview AT henryhlwu covid19inelderlypatientsreceivinghaemodialysisacurrentreview AT philipakalra covid19inelderlypatientsreceivinghaemodialysisacurrentreview AT rajkumarchinnadurai covid19inelderlypatientsreceivinghaemodialysisacurrentreview |