BOOSTER doses of coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines can prevent fatalities among patients suffering from kidney diseases to a large extent, said a senior Bahraini medic.
According to Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) Youssef Khalil Almoayyed Nephrology and Renal Transplant Centre chairman Dr Ali Al Aradi, around 30 deaths were recorded from April to June at the centre who were elderly, heavily immunosuppressed and had developed complications post-Covid-19 recovery.
The centre also saw at least three cases in a month during the year showing deteriorating kidney functioning or needing haemodialysis post-recovery.
“We have seen around three to four in a month facing worsened kidney functioning post-Covid which is a big number alongside fatalities due to Covid-19 complications,” Dr Al Aradi told the GDN.
“With a lower number of cases since the end of June these numbers have dropped.
“In the peak time (April to June) we have had around 30 deaths from post-Covid-19 complications.
“They were kidney transplant patients who were immunosuppressed.”
According to studies, a normal person develops antibodies within two weeks of the second dose of a vaccine.
However, Dr Al Aradi pointed out that people with kidney problems took more time to develop antibodies and hence booster doses were important.
“People in this category even after two doses of a vaccine take more time to develop antibodies; hence the booster dose is important.
“While studies are ongoing on the efficacy of vaccines, the best bet would be to get vaccinated, and follow it up with a booster shot.
“It is not Covid-19 as such that is the risk, it is the overwhelming infection that complicates their condition leading to deaths.”
The veteran medic noted that kidney patients were at a higher risk due of nephrotoxicity – the rapid deterioration in the kidney function due to the toxic effect of medications and chemicals alongside the acute shock syndrome from the infection.
“People with compromised kidney functioning are at a higher risk of going into irreversible renal damage post-Covid,” said Al Aradi.
“We have seen patients going into haemodialysis to preserve the limited functioning.
“Among the recovered we have seen a good number of people who ended up with poor baseline kidney functioning, while a smaller number had to go in for haemodialysis.”
Stressing that people aged above 50 and with comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension were at “still higher risk”, he added it was not always the infection that killed but it was the “disruption” in treatment.
“Disruption in routine schedules of dialysis was one of the main reasons, as we saw at the SMC.
“Initially patients were worried about visiting the hospital for dialysis due to a fear of infection and this contributed to the risk.”
Early detection of kidney conditions was crucial in risks, he noted, which was echoed by King Hamad University Hospital consultant nephrologist Dr Balaji Dandi.
“Initially we had many patients with no kidney problems developing acute kidney injuries with Covid-19,” he said.
“Almost 30 per cent of the cases developed acute kidney injuries with Covid-19 and some even required dialysis.
“Covid-19 patients with underlying conditions are more prone to kidney damages and hence regular function tests are vital.”
Meanwhile a recent study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that Covid-19 recovered patients, even those with mild to moderate symptoms and not admitted to hospital, face a greater risk of kidney disease.
It also found that “sicker” patients were more likely to experience lingering kidney damage.
The study said survivors exhibited increased risk of kidney outcomes in the post-acute phase of the disease.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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