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...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Thomas McDonnell, Henry H. L. Wu, Philip A. Kalra, Rajkumar Chinnadurai
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