Investigation of renal function in patients with long COVID in the Amazon region: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background

COVID-19 became a pandemic disease in 2020, with multisystem involvement and high renal morbidity during the acute phase. Some affected patients began to present new or persistent symptoms in a condition known as Long COVID. The study aimed to evaluate renal function using clinical and laboratory findings, and to establish the frequency and staging of renal function decline in Long COVID patients, as well as the associated factors.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional observational study that selected participants from a Long COVID clinical care program between 2020 and 2022.

Results

A total of 246 patients were selected for this study, and renal function decline was found in 83 (33.7%). Patients over 60 years (29.6%) and those who developed glycaemic alterations (41.8%) exhibited a higher prevalence of renal outcomes in long COVID. Some laboratory test as LDH levels and glycated hemoglobin seems to have a statistic relation with a decrease in renal function (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

A decline in renal function was common in patients with Long COVID in this study, and older age and glycaemic alterations were relevant to this condition. Some laboratory markers can be used to predict this outcome.