New research in the United States has shown that deaths among individuals waiting for, or receiving, a kidney transplant increased to a considerable extent in 2020, and these patients were particularly prone to die from COVID-19. This is the first national data analysis of COVID-19-related deaths among patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).

Overall deaths were noted to be 24% higher among waitlisted kidney transplant candidates and 20% higher among kidney transplant recipients, in comparison with a year earlier. The research also noted that those from racial and ethnic minority groups disproportionately succumbed to the disease.

Researchers stated that one of the reasons could be that people waiting for a transplant were receiving in-center dialysis, which would have made it difficult to follow complete social distancing. Additionally, candidates on the waiting list are subject to repeated exposure to a healthcare facility which may expose them to the virus… (Medscape)