COVID-19 in solid organ transplant recipients: No difference in survival compared to general population

Transpl Infect Dis. 2021 Feb;23(1):e13421. doi: 10.1111/tid.13421. Epub 2020 Aug 2.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be associated with worse outcome in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. We performed a prospective cohort study of hospitalized patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, from March 15 to April 30, 2020, at two tertiary hospitals in Emilia-Romagna Region. SOT recipients were compared with non-SOT patients. Primary endpoint was all-cause 30-day mortality. Relationship between SOT status and mortality was investigated by univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis. Patients were assessed from COVID-19 diagnosis to death or 30-day whichever occurred first. Study cohort consisted of 885 patients, of them 24 SOT recipients (n = 22, kidney, n = 2 liver). SOT recipients were younger, had lower BMI, but higher Charlson Index. At admission they presented less frequently with fever and respiratory failure. No difference in 30-day mortality between the two groups (19% vs 22.1%) was found; however, there was a trend toward higher rate of respiratory failure (50% vs 33.1%, P = .07) in SOT recipients. Superinfections were more represented in SOT recipients, (50% vs 15.5%, P < .001). At multivariate analysis adjusted for main covariates, there was no association between SOT and 30-day mortality HR 1.15 (95% CI 0.39-3.35) P = .79. Our data suggest that mortality among COVID-19 SOT recipients is similar to general population.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; solid organ transplantation.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • COVID-19 / complications*
  • COVID-19 / mortality*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Organ Transplantation*
  • Risk Factors*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Transplant Recipients*