COVID-19 linked to increased risk of acute kidney disorders, reveals new study

Researchers from West China Hospital, Sichuan University, have conducted a study revealing a significant association between COVID-19 and acute kidney disorders (AKD), including acute kidney injury (AKI), that varies over time. The study, led by Dr. Li Chunyang and Dr. Zeng Xiaoxi from the West China Biomedical Big Data Center, was recently published in the journal Health Data Science.

COVID-19, known for its impact on the respiratory system, also affects other organs, including the kidneys. The study aimed to investigate the time-dependent effects of COVID-19 on acute kidney disorders. Using data from the UK Biobank, the researchers conducted a matched cohort study and a Mendelian randomization analysis to explore both the association and potential causality between COVID-19 and AKD.

"Our research highlights the time-varying risk of acute kidney disorders in COVID-19 patients, particularly in the first three weeks following infection," said Dr. Li Chunyang, a research associate at the West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University. "We observed that the hazard effects peak in the second week post-infection and decline by the fourth week."

The study involved 10,121 COVID-19 patients matched with 29,004 unexposed historical controls based on age, sex, deprivation index, and hospitalization status. A conditional and time-varying Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to assess the association between COVID-19 and AKD within four weeks of infection. The results indicated that the risk of AKD peaked during the second week after infection (hazard ratio, 12.77; 95% confidence interval, 5.93–27.70) and decreased by the fourth week (hazard ratio, 2.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.75–6.93).