Coronavirus damages not only lungs - the time of the pandemic has shown that it also weakens the kidneys, and this also happens in people who had no problems with them before. Available data show that one in twenty recoveries develop permanent kidney damage. Why is SARS-CoV-2 virus so dangerous to the kidneys and who is most at risk of damaging this organ related to COVID-19?

Almost from the beginning of the pandemic, it has been known that sick kidneys significantly increase the risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19 - chronically ill people, especially hemodialysed ones, are particularly vulnerable. However, coronavirus can lead to serious, permanent damage to kidney function also in people who have not had problems with this organ so far.

Kidney damage from COVID-19: who's at risk?

In whom does COVID-19 damage the kidneys? So far, the mechanism that leads to kidney damage from COVID-19 infection has not yet been fully understood. However, scientists and doctors look at a few specific factors. In a study commissioned by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 89,000 he alth records were analyzed. patients who were tested positive for coronavirus between 03.2022 and 03.2022, as well as 1.6 million people who did not have COVID-19 during this period. The analysis showed that:

  • people with very intense symptoms in the initial stage of COVID-19 were more likely to have kidney damage due to coronavirus infection
  • people who suffered from COVID-19 in the period from 1-6 months earlier were by 35% more likely to suffer from kidney damage or significant deterioration of kidney function compared to patients who did not have COVID-19.
  • 4,757 patients who contracted COVID-19 (which accounted for over 5% of the studied group) lost at least 30% of the infection within a year. kidney function. This is the equivalent of a 30-year decline in kidney function (assuming he althy adults gradually lose kidney function at an average rate of 1 percent per year, starting in the age of 30 or 40).

- We observe that some people, especially those with a severe course of COVID-19, develop moderate to severe damagekidney. Such a clinical course indicates that as a result of COVID-19, we will experience a significant increase in the incidence of chronic kidney disease - comments Dr. n. med. Szymon Brzósko, nephrologist, medical director of the non-public network of DaVita Polska dialysis stations.

- The organ damage that COVID-19 causes can be irreversible. After an acute kidney injury, and not only in the course of COVID-19, permanent losses of glomerular filtration are observed, which will have consequences in the future. Chronic damage is progressive. Depending on the etiology and coexisting diseases, it may lead to irreversible loss of kidney function, where renal replacement therapy is necessary - kidney transplantation or dialysis. Developing permanent kidney problems after coronavirus infection may become a personal tragedy for those affected by this problem, and for the he althcare system a big organizational and financial challenge - he adds.

Why is coronavirus so dangerous to the kidneys?

But why the SARS-CoV-2 virus can damage the kidneys? So far, some interesting hypotheses have emerged.

  • Coronavirus can attack kidney cells directly. Kidney cells have receptors that allow the coronavirus to attach to and enter them, and then replicate (i.e. multiply). Similar receptors are present in the cells of the lungs and heart, which are also damaging the coronavirus, which has already been well documented.
  • The reason may also be hypoxia, i.e. insufficient amount of oxygen in the blood, which some people experience, especially the seriously ill.
  • Another hypothesis suggests that the cause of kidney damage in COVID-19 may be a cytokine storm, i.e. the body's excessive systemic inflammatory response to the pathogen. During this process, the immune system produces a huge amount of cytokines: proteins that are involved in immune processes, but their sudden overproduction can lead to severe inflammation that can destroy tissues.
  • It may be caused by COVID-19 blood clots, which can also form in the microcirculation of the kidneys. The formation of these tiny blood clots that can clog the smallest blood vessels in the kidneys is a known mechanism by causing them to stop working properly.

How To Prevent Kidney Damage From COVID-19?

Therefore, currently, in order to protect against the severe course of COVID-19, vaccination is the only most effective method. - It is understandable that the aim of vaccination is both to reduce the number of cases and aboveall of the severe course of the disease and the number of deaths. Now that safe and effective vaccines are available, taking them also prevents postovid complications, especially those affecting people with severe COVID-19. Let us bear in mind that this disease can have really serious consequences for our kidneys, consequences that may accompany us for the rest of our lives - appeals Dr. n. med. Szymon Brzósko

As the expert reminds, chronic kidney disease is currently one of the most common diseases of civilization. Almost 700 million people suffer from it all over the world, in Poland, this problem may affect up to 4.5 million Poles, most of whom do not know about it. Complete, irreversible loss of kidney function requires renal replacement therapy - kidney transplantation or dialysis. In Poland, there are about 20,000 dialysis patients. people.

Category:

COVID 19