COVID-19 vaccination does not adversely affect kidney function in patients with glomerular disease
USA: A recent study published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD) supports vaccination for COVID-19 in patients with glomerular disease (GN).
Findings revealed 1 in 8 cases of COVID-19 to be severe among patients with primary GN and was linked with subsequent worsening of the disease activity of GN, as defined by proteinuria. In contrast, COVID-19 vaccination was not associated with kidney function decline or change in disease activity.
"Among 2,055 adults with a wide range of glomerular diseases, the COVID-19 vaccination did not adversely affect kidney function or worsen kidney damage and appeared safe in this population," the study stated.
Patients with glomerular disease (GN) may be at increased risk of severe COVID-19, yet concerns over vaccines causing disease relapse may lead to vaccine hesitancy. Researchers examined the associations of COVID-19 with longitudinal kidney function and proteinuria and compared these to similar associations with COVID-19 vaccination.
The researchers reported the following findings:
· Among 2,055 participants, 35% reported COVID-19; of these, 13% were hospitalized and 3 died.
· eGFR slope pre-COVID-19 was -1.40ml/min/1.73m2, and -4.26ml/min/1.73m2 within 6 months post-COVID-19, which were not significantly different.
· COVID-19 was associated with an increased risk of worsening GN disease activity (HR 1.35).
· Vaccination was not associated with a change in eGFR (-1.34ml/min/1.73m2, SD 0.15 vs -2.16ml/min/1.73m2) or subsequent GN disease worsening (HR 1.02) in this cohort.
In this cohort study of 2,055 patients with minimal change disease (MCD), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), membranous nephropathy, or IgA nephropathy (IgAN), COVID-19 resulted in hospitalization or death for 1 in 8 cases and was associated with a 35% increase in risk for worsening proteinuria. In contrast, vaccination did not appear to adversely affect kidney function or proteinuria.
Reference:
Chia-shi Wang, Dorey A. Glenn, Margaret Helmuth, Debbie Gipson, Laura H. Mariani, Association of COVID-19 Versus COVID-19 Vaccination With Kidney Function and Disease Activity in Primary Glomerular Disease: A Report of the Cure Glomerulonephropathy Study, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2023.07.008
