COVID-19 & the Kidneys | Tennessee Valley Urology Center
If you know much about COVID-19, you likely know that it’s a viral respiratory illness, meaning that it most directly affects the lungs and other respiratory organs among those that become infected. Even though COVID-19 most specifically targets the respiratory system, it has also been known to take a toll on the kidneys.
Read on to learn more from our Tennessee Valley Urology Center team about how COVID-19 affects the kidneys and those with chronic kidney disease, or CKD.
How Does COVID-19 Affect the Kidneys?
For those who have CKD, developing COVID-19 can quickly overwhelm the kidneys. In fact, it appears that more advanced existing kidney disease is associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes, as a recent study found that people with COVID-19 and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were 11 times more likely to be hospitalized than people who didn’t have kidney disease.
Even if you don’t have CKD or a more advanced type of kidney disease, COVID-19 can still cause kidney trouble. There have been cases where otherwise healthy adults with COVID-19 have developed a sudden loss of kidney function, known as acute kidney injury.
In its worst cases, dialysis may be required to recover, but this type of kidney damage can also sometimes be reversed.
Why Does COVID-19 Affect the Kidneys?
Because COVID-19 is still a relatively new disease, there’s not quite enough research done to accurately explain how the virus negatively affects the kidneys; however, many medical experts suggest that COVID-19 affects the kidneys in the following ways:
- Acute tubular necrosis with septic shock
- Microinflammation
- Increased blood clotting that “clogs” the kidneys
- Low oxygen levels
Do People With CKD Have a Higher Risk of Getting the Virus?
Not necessarily, but those with CKD sometimes have a weaker immune system due to things like a need for dialysis and ESRD, which can, in turn, make you more susceptible to developing the virus.
No matter if you have CKD or visit our urology center for occasional checkups, we encourage everyone to stay COVID-19-safe—especially as the Delta variant is causing an uptick in infection cases. If you haven’t already, get the vaccine, which has proven to be very safe and effective, to lower your risk of developing acute kidney problems due to the coronavirus.
Have any additional questions about how COVID-19 could affect your kidneys? Don’t hesitate to reach out today!