Ways to prevent COVID-19 in the renal unit

• What should I do if I am a kidney patient so that I am not infected during my therapies?

• What care can I take not to spread to other patients if I have COVID-19?

In times of pandemic, many dynamics of our lives have had to change. All of these changes are aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus for us and those around us, and thus keeping us healthy.

Many patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) may have wondered whether it is safe to continue attending therapies, especially hemodialysis. To clarify any doubts that may exist in this regard, we spoke with Alfonso Bunch, internist, nephrologist, and medical director at Baxter Renal Care Services.

For starters, patients with CKD should remember that for no reason should they neglect their treatments. Although it is advisable not to leave home, patients who require hemodialysis should not miss their sessions.

It should be remembered that chronic kidney disease, like diabetes, hypertension and/or obesity, are considered comorbidities (health conditions that may complicate the patient's clinical picture in the face of a coronavirus infection). “Having comorbidities, complications may appear in the event of a COVID-19 infection. The disease presents itself in a more severe way in front of those who do not,” explains our doctor.

Similarly, Bunch notes that "people with CKD, in general, are older patients, only for that reason they already have a risk factor, in addition, they can have comorbidities such as diabetes or obesity due to the same disease, which also generates changes and alterations in their immune system and in the ability to defend against these infections.The clinical picture may include a choking that requires hospitalization, so the symptoms are similar, but the frequency with which severe symptoms occur is higher in patients with CKD”.

With this in mind, for patients to continue to attend their therapies quietly, there are several points to consider.

• For peritoneal dialysis, it is recommended that patients continue to do it at home. They should only visit the renal units in strictly necessary cases. To do this, they must continue to attend their doctors' teleconsultations.

• When in doubt about symptoms possibly associated with coronavirus, the patient should inform their physician as soon as possible

• For those requiring haemodialysis, therapies should continue. In the renal units, a triage will always be carried out in which the patient must report any new developments or new symptoms. This will ensure that those under suspicion of COVID-19 are not in the same room as other healthy patients.

• When attending a renal unit, the patient and his companion must always wear masks.

• On entry there must also be adequate hand washing to reduce risks, and, where possible, avoid using mass transportation to and from the unit.

• All patients with CKD are advised to avoid contact with individuals outside the household family. They should avoid leaving home if it is not for their therapies or other medical matters.