SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Infectious Diseases, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA
Meeting: 2021 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: LB 43
Keywords: COVID-19, Kidney/liver transplantation, Kidney/pancreas transplantation, Liver failure
Topic: Clinical Science » Infectious Disease » COVID-19
Session Information
Session Name: COVID-19
Session Type: Poster Abstract
Session Date & Time: None. Available on demand.
Location: Virtual
*Purpose: Initial studies of COVID-19 in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients demonstrated high mortality rates, but more recent comparative data shows contradictory results.
*Methods: We evaluated differences in demographic characteristics, comorbidities, clinical presentation, and outcomes among three patient groups based on their solid organ transplant status and COVID-19 status between 3/1/2020 and 6/30/2020: SOT recipients with COVID-19 (T+|C+), SOT recipients who tested negative for COVID-19 (T+|C-), patients with cirrhosis or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who were positive for COVID-19 (T-|C+). Controls (T-|C+) were chosen in a 2:1 match with cases (T+|C+) based on age range, gender and testing date. Bivariate analyses were done using chi-square and Fisher’s exact test for categorical data and ANOVA for continuous data using STATA 15. Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparison.
*Results: A total of 222 patients were included in this analysis, 22 (10%) T+|C+, 153 (69%) T+|C-, 47 (21%) T-|C+ (Table 1). Among transplant recipients, patients with COVID-19 were more likely non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic and younger. T+|C+ patients were more likely to present with symptoms than other groups; however, they were less likely to be hospitalized and die (p < 0.01). Among patients with COVID-19, patients with transplant were less likely to require supplemental oxygen support (p = 0.01) and ICU admission (p = 0.05). SARS-CoV-2 PCR cycle thresholds are shown in Figure 1.
Table 1: Characteristics, comorbidities and presenting symptoms of transplant patients with and without COVID-19 and non-transplant patients with COVID-19
Transplant COVID + T+ | C+ (N=22) | Transplant COVID – T+ | C- (N=153) | Controls COVID – T- | C+ (N=47) | P-value | |
Age, mean (SD) | 54.6 (11.4) | 58.5 (11.6) | 63.6 (13.6) | 0.01a |
Male Gender | 16 (72.3%) | 914 (61.4%) | 31 (65.9%) | 0.57 |
Race- ethnicity | ||||
Non-Hispanic White | 11 (50.0%) | 84 (55.2%) | 27 (57.4%) | 0.01b |
Non-Hispanic Black | 3 (13.6%) | 10 (6.5%) | 11 (23.4%) | |
Hispanic or Latino | 6 (27.2%) | 31 (20.3%) | 8 (17.0%) | |
Non-Hispanic other | 2 (9.1%) | 27 (17.7%) | 1 (2.1%) | |
Organ transplanted | ||||
Kidney Transplant | 13 (59.1%) | 68 (44.5%) | – | 0.78 |
Liver Transplant | 9 (40.9%) | 81 (52.9%) | – | |
Multi-organ Transplant | 0 | 4 (2.6%) | – | |
Comorbidities | ||||
Hypertension | 17 (77.2%) | 114 (74.5%) | 35 (74.4%) | 1.00 |
Diabetes | 11 (50.0%) | 88 (57.5%) | 30 (63.8%) | 0.54 |
COPD | 2 (9.1%) | 10 (6.5%) | 17 (36.1%) | <0.01 |
CKD | 16 (72.7%) | 90 (58.8%) | 32 (68.1%) | 0.29 |
Asthma | 3 (13.6%) | 14 (9.1%) | 1 (2.1%) | 0.13 |
Cancer history | 1 (4.5%) | 35 (22.8%) | 6 (12.7%) | 0.05 |
Cirrhosis | – | – | 21 (44.6%) | |
Dialysis dependent | – | – | 27 (57.4%) | |
Symptoms | ||||
Fever | 17 (94.4%) | 53 (60.9%) | 23 (69.7%) | 0.01 |
Cough | 13 (72.2%) | 39 (44.8%) | 17 (51.5%) | 0.08 |
Dyspnea | 8 (44.4%) | 48 (55.1%) | 22 (66.6%) | 0.15 |
Fatigue | 10 (55.5%) | 53 (60.9%) | 13 (39.3%) | 0.10 |
Myalgias | 9 (50.0%) | 25 (28.7%) | 1 (3.0%) | < 0.01 |
Pharyngitis | 5 (27.7%) | 11 (12.6%) | 3 (9.1%) | 0.13 |
Nausea | 6 (33.3%) | 27 (31.0%) | 4 (12.1%) | 0.07 |
Diarrhea | 7 (38.8%) | 31 (35.6%) | 3 (9.1%) | 0.01 |
Headache | 9 (50.0%) | 22 (25.2%) | 2 (6.0%) | < 0.01 |
Symptomatic at Testing? | 17 (77%) | – | 21 (45%) | |
Hospitalized | 5 (26.3%) | – | 24 (72.3%) | < 0.01 |
Deceased | 1 (4.5%) | 13 (8.5%) | 15 (31.9%) | < 0.01 |
p-values based on chi-square test with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparison unless noted a: ANOVA with Bonferroni correction; b: Fisher’s exact with Bonferroni correction |
*Conclusions: Patients who are transplant recipients with COVID-19 may not have a higher risk of severe disease or mortality in comparison to transplant patients without COVID-19 and patients with cirrhosis or ESRD.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Adeel A. SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Retrospective Cohort Study [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2021; 21 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/sars-cov-2-infection-in-solid-organ-transplant-recipients-a-retrospective-cohort-study/. Accessed November 25, 2024.« Back to 2021 American Transplant Congress