ESRD and COVID-19

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

The following was published by the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from June 4, 2021:

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a condition in which kidney function has permanently declined such that renal replacement therapy is required to sustain life. The mortality rate for patients with ESRD in the United States has been declining since 2001, however, during the COVID-19 pandemic, ESRD patients are at high risk for COVID-19-associated morbidity and mortality, which is due, in part to weakened immune systems and the presence of multiple comorbidities

Based on the national trend in ESRD deaths during the first 7 months of the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic (February 1-August 31, 2020), an estimated 8.7-12.9 excess deaths per 1,000 patients or 6,953-10,316 excess deaths in a population of 798,611 U.S. ESRD patients occurred

Geographic and temporal patterns of excess mortality, including those among persons with ESRD, should be considered during the planning and implementation of interventions, such as COVID-19 vaccination, patient education, and rollout of infection control guidance and technical assistance.

Stay well, stay informed, and stay tuned!