The Effects of Acute Kidney Injury on COVID-19 related Clinical Outcomes and Mortality in a Hispanic Population

Abstract The effect of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 has been severe in minority communities across the United States, especially in Hispanics. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is observed as a significant factor to worsening outcomes in patients with COVID-19. In this retrospective observational study, clinical outcomes related to renal impairment were assessed among Hispanic patients with COVID-19 by screening all patients hospitalized between March, 2020 and March, 2021 at a tertiary care hospital in El Paso, Texas, resulting in a total of 1,478 patients. The cohort consisted of 385 (26%) with renal impairment, including 195 (13.2%) AKI, 128 (8.7%) chronic kidney disease, and 60 (4.0%) end stage renal disease. Patients with any form of renal impairment with COVID-19 had an increased mortality risk. AKI yielded increased mortality and ICU transfer than other forms of renal impairment. Mitigation strategies and proactively monitoring of renal impairment patients with COVID-19 need to be implemented in Hispanics.