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SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

A. Adeel

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.

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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 May 16, 2025.

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