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Key Points

A groundbreaking UCLA study reveals significant benefits of Covid vaccination for patients with acute kidney injury. Researchers found vaccinated patients were less likely to require ongoing dialysis and had substantially lower mortality rates. The study analyzed over 3,500 patients hospitalized with Covid-19 between 2020 and 2022. These findings underscore the critical importance of vaccination in reducing long-term health complications.

Key Points: UCLA Study Reveals Covid Vaccine Benefits for Kidney Injury Patients

  • UCLA analyzed 3,500 Covid patients with kidney injury
  • Vaccinated patients had significantly better medical outcomes
  • Vaccination reduced dialysis and mortality risks
  • Study published in Kidney Medicine journal
2 min read

Prior Covid vaccination proved beneficial for acute kidney injury patients: Study

Groundbreaking research shows Covid vaccination reduces dialysis needs and mortality risk for patients with acute kidney injury

"The Covid vaccine is an important intervention that can decrease the chances of developing complications - Dr. Niloofar Nobakht, UCLA"

New Delhi, June 13

Vaccinated patients hospitalised with Covid-19 who developed acute kidney injury had better outcomes than unvaccinated patients with the same condition, according to new research on Friday.

The study led by researchers from the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) showed that patients with prior vaccination were less likely to stay on dialysis after discharge, and more likely to survive than unvaccinated patients.

Acute kidney injury, or AKI, is common among people infected with Covid, with rates running as high as 46 per cent. It can lead to a mild decrease in kidney function or, if severe enough, to dialysis. The long-term renal and survival outcomes of these patients, however, have not been well understood.

The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Kidney Medicine, suggest that Covid vaccination can reduce long-term kidney function decline and mortality risk.

"The Covid vaccine is an important intervention that can decrease the chances of developing complications from the Covid-19 infection in patients hospitalised with acute kidney injuries," said lead author Dr. Niloofar Nobakht, Associate Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

"It is important for individuals to discuss the benefits of getting vaccinated for Covid-19 with their doctors as it can decrease the chances of needing dialysis, which can severely affect the quality of life of patients and lead to further complications including death," Nobakht added.

The researchers analysed about 3,500 patients hospitalised with Covid between March 1, 2020, and March 30, 2022.

Of those patients, 972 developed acute kidney injury, with 411 (42.3 per cent) unvaccinated and 467 (48 per cent) having received at least two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines or one dose of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine.

They found that 65 (15.8 per cent) unvaccinated patients were more likely to need a type of dialysis for critically ill patients called continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) compared with 51 (10.9 per cent) vaccinated patients.

In addition, unvaccinated patients had 2.56 times the odds of needing CRRT after hospital discharge, 5.54 times the risk of dying in the hospital, and 4.78 times higher risk of dying during long-term follow-up compared with vaccinated patients.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
This study proves what we've been saying all along - vaccines save lives! 🇮🇳 During the second wave, I saw so many relatives suffer. Those who were vaccinated had milder symptoms. Why do people still doubt science? Get vaccinated, stay safe!
P
Priya M.
Interesting findings, but I wish the study included Covishield data since that's what most Indians received. Would the results be similar with our vaccines? Still, better to be safe than sorry - dialysis is no joke.
A
Amit S.
My father had kidney issues after COVID last year. Thankfully he was fully vaccinated with Covaxin. Doctors said it could've been much worse otherwise. This research confirms what we experienced personally. 🙏
S
Sunita R.
The numbers speak for themselves - nearly 5 times higher risk of death for unvaccinated patients! Yet some WhatsApp forwards still spread misinformation. When will people learn? Our government did well with the vaccination drive.
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Vijay P.
I'm glad research is finally looking at long-term COVID effects. In India, we focus so much on immediate deaths but forget about lasting organ damage. More awareness needed about post-COVID care, especially for kidneys.
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Neha T.
While the study is important, I hope it doesn't create unnecessary fear. Many recovered COVID patients are doing fine. Let's use this info to encourage vaccination, not panic about kidney damage. Stay positive and protected! 😊

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