The findings, published in eClinicalMedicine, highlight important differences in the impact of these two respiratory viruses on kidney health.
The study, which analyzed data from a large Hong Kong cohort, found that influenza patients had a 49% higher risk of developing acute kidney injury compared with those with Covid-19. The influenza group also had a 43% higher risk of developing stage 3 acute kidney injury and a 48% higher risk of requiring acute dialysis.
“These findings are in stark contrast to previous reports that suggested an increased risk of acute kidney failure and more severe renal impairment among COVID-19 patients,” said Dr Desmond Yap Yathin, Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Hong Kong Medical University, who led the research. “Our study sheds new light on the evolving landscape of COVID-19 and its impact on kidney health.”
SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A are known to be common viruses that cause upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Both viruses can also cause acute kidney failure (AKI), but the comparative risks of AKI in patients with COVID-19 and influenza A have not been previously investigated.
Patients who become seriously ill after contracting one of these respiratory viral infections place a significant burden on society, especially if they develop multi-organ failure, requiring intensive or long-term organ support.
This study compared the incidence and severity of acute renal failure in patients with COVID-19 and influenza A in Hong Kong, providing valuable insights into the extra-respiratory complications associated with these viral infections.
Investigators from the Department of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Critical Care Medicine Unit and Department of Microbiology of the Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Hong Kong Medical University collaborated to conduct a study using data from the Hospital Authority’s electronic health records.
The research team analyzed data from 4,328 patients admitted to intensive care units at 15 public hospitals in Hong Kong between January 2013 and April 2023, of whom 2,787 (64.4%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and 1,541 (35.6%) tested positive for influenza A.
The results showed that 1,053 (37.8%) of COVID-19 patients developed acute kidney infection during their stay in the intensive care unit, compared to 828 (53.7%) of influenza A patients.
After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk of acute kidney failure in influenza A patients was twice the risk of acute kidney failure in COVID-19 patients. The risk of severe acute kidney failure and prolonged acute kidney failure was significantly higher in influenza A patients.
The research team offered some plausible explanations for the increased risk of acute kidney failure in influenza A patients, the first of which is that the influenza virus may be more virulent or more damaging to the kidneys than “Covid-19.”
Second, and perhaps more importantly, significantly higher vaccination rates among local populations during the COVID-19 pandemic may have provided some protection against the development of kidney problems.
Population statistics show that the local vaccination rate against “Covid-19” has exceeded 70% for adults aged 20 to 59, and more than 60% for adults aged 60 to 69.
In contrast, annual influenza vaccination rates were only 10–20% for people aged 50–64 years, and less than 50% for those aged 65 years or older. Whether improving influenza vaccination coverage during a seasonal pandemic could reduce the risk of systemic organ injury remains to be investigated.
Source: Medical Express
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2024-08-30 16:41:07
