José R. Nieto-Saucedo, Departamento de Medicina y Nutrición, Universidad de Guanajuato. León, Guanajuato, México
María D. Salazar-López, Departamento de Medicina y Nutrición, Universidad de Guanajuato. León, Guanajuato, México
José A. Álvarez-Canales, Departamento de Medicina y Nutrición, Universidad de Guanajuato. León, Guanajuato; Departamento de Docencia e Investigación, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad del Bajío, León, Guanajuato; México
Alejandro E. Macías-Hernández, Departamento de Medicina y Nutrición, Universidad de Guanajuato. León, Guanajuato, México
Esperanza García-Moreno, Departamento de Docencia e Investigación, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad del Bajío, León, Guanajuato, México
Karina S. Zamarripa-Martínez, Departamento de Docencia e Investigación, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad del Bajío, León, Guanajuato, México
Juan L. Mosqueda-Gómez, Departamento de Medicina y Nutrición, Universidad de Guanajuato. León, Guanajuato; Dirección General, Centro Nacional para la Prevención y Control del VIH/SIDA y Hepatitis, Ciudad de México. México
Background: Initial studies showed higher admission rates, severe disease, and mortality of COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients (KTR); nevertheless, Mexico has shown contradictory results. Objective: Determine whether Mexican KTRs have an increased risk of adverse outcomes due to COVID-19. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on KTRs transplanted between 2009 and 2021. Non-exposed participants were matched by age and sociodemographic characteristics. COVID-19 frequency, severity, and outcomes were assessed from 2020 to 2022. Results: A total of 230 participants in each group were enrolled; 55% of them were male. The median age was 33 years (Interquartile range 27-49). KTR showed a higher risk of hospitalization (20% versus 7%, odds ratio [OR] 3.3; 1.4-7.8), severe disease (29% versus 9.6%, OR 3.8; 1.8-8.1), and acute kidney injury (11.8% versus 1%, OR 15.1; 1.94-117). No differences were found in 30-day mortality. After vaccination, COVID-19 frequency decreased in both groups (p < 0.0001); severe disease significantly dropped in non-KTR (11 to 0%, p = 0.04), but not in KTR (31 to 20%, p = 0.28). Mortality trends were non-significant in both groups. Conclusion: KTRs suffering from COVID-19 are at greater risk of severe disease; however, we found no differences in 30-day mortality.
Keywords: COVID-19. Kidney transplantation. Mortality. Vaccination.