Kidney societies ask health agencies worldwide to help patients with COVID-19 who need dialysis
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The presidents of the American Society of Nephrology, the International Society of Nephrology, and the European Renal Association/European Dialysis and Transplant Association have released a joint statement asking international health agencies to meet the increasing demand for dialysis supplies and equipment for kidney patients with COVID-19.
“On behalf of our three societies, we ask that government agencies overseeing dialysis centers in the developing world ensure that they provide support to staff, nephrologists, and other health professionals delivering life-saving dialysis treatments to these vulnerable patients. At the same time, government agencies must make rapid testing capabilities and personal protective equipment an utmost priority,” according to the statement. It was signed by Professor Vivekanand Jha, president of the International Society of Nephrology, Professor Carmine Zoccali, president of the European Renal Association/European Dialysis and Transplant Association and Professor Anupam Agarwal, president of the American Society of Nephrology.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is exposing the deficiencies in care delivery, especially in countries with weak health systems. The global health care community and policymakers should anticipate and address the unique needs of different patient groups such as those with kidney failure,” Jha said in the statement.
The COVID-19 pandemic presents numerous challenges to health care systems around the world, the society presidents wrote in the letter. “ ... Interruptions in supply chains, and increased demand, have led to shortages of personal protective equipment for dialysis center staff, placing these health care workers at undue risk. Shortages of drugs and consumables necessary for dialysis treatment also create obstacles to care for people with kidney failure,” the society presidents wrote.
The letter noted that 20% to 30% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 develop kidney failure, leading to a surge in requirements for dialysis. “Hospitals need to be prepared to augment dialysis capacity in order to provide effective care to patients with COVID-19 and stringent measures should be adopted to protect the frail dialysis population from COVID-19 infection,” Zoccali said in the statement.
“Interruption of this life-saving treatment is a certain death sentence for patients on maintenance dialysis. Making them collateral damage to this pandemic would be a tragedy,” Agarwal said in the statement.
Reference: www.era-edta.org/newsletter/ASN_ERAEDTA_ISN_statement.html
Disclosures: Jha, Zoccali, Agarwal report no relevant financial disclosures.
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