Evaluation of mortality of COVID-19 patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) in comparison to the non-AKI patients

 Acute kidney injury (AKI) is prevalent in the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). There are little data on the relationship between renal dysfunction and COVID-19 prognosis.

 The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of AKI in COVID-19 patients hospitalized to the Golestan and Razi hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran.

 In this retrospective cohort study, a total of 194 COVID-19 patients were included, consisting of 79 patients with AKI and 115 patients without AKI. Primary and secondary outcomes were compared between the two groups.

 According to the findings, mortality was significantly different between the two groups, and mortality was higher in the AKI group (P< 0.001). The mean length of hospital stay was statistically significantly higher in the AKI group (P=0.024). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between intensive care unit (ICU) admission and the study group (P<0.001). Staging of AKI group were seen as; stage I (49.37%), stage II (36.71%), and stage III (13.92%). No significant correlation was observed between outcome and the stages of AKI (P=0.496). Furthermore, 14 patients (17.72%) needed renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the AKI group.

 Although AKI is a common finding in COVID-19 patients, most patients were in stage I disease, which returned to normal after COVID-19 treatment. According to our research, COVID-19 rarely leads to serious and persistent kidney injury. However, the risk of death is increased in COVID-19 patients with AKI. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the renal function tests during the course of disease.