Largest Study Examines Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 on Kidney Health

A comprehensive study involving over 13 million individuals in England has shed light on the long-term impact of COVID-19 on kidney health. The research indicates that mild COVID-19 infections, which do not require hospitalization, are unlikely to cause lasting kidney damage. However, patients who experience severe illness necessitating hospital care face a significantly elevated risk of developing kidney problems later on.

The study, conducted by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in collaboration with the University of Oxford's OpenSAFELY platform, analyzed electronic health records from February 2020 to December 2022. This platform enables secure, anonymized access to large-scale medical data, supporting detailed population health research without compromising patient privacy.

Data from more than 3.5 million individuals confirmed COVID-19 infection, while the remaining 10 million had no recorded infection. Patients already on dialysis or living with a kidney transplant were excluded to focus on new kidney function outcomes. The findings, published in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe, reveal that during the pandemic, severe COVID-19 cases requiring hospitalization were associated with a more than sevenfold increased risk of kidney failure, especially among those admitted to intensive care or experiencing acute kidney injury. In contrast, mild COVID-19 cases showed no increased risk for long-term kidney issues.

Research lead Dr. Viyaasan Mahalingasivam explained that this is the largest study to date investigating long-term kidney outcomes post-COVID-19. While acute kidney injury during severe infection was a common concern, the results are reassuring regarding milder cases. Nevertheless, the high risk linked to severe illness underscores the importance of preventive measures, including vaccination, particularly for vulnerable populations.

The study also observed disparities across different ethnic groups, with the highest risk of kidney damage among Black individuals. Senior author Prof. Laurie Tomlinson emphasized the need for ongoing monitoring of discharged COVID-19 patients and urged further research into health inequalities. The authors recommend focusing healthcare efforts on preventing severe disease through vaccination and early intervention to reduce long-term kidney risks associated with COVID-19.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-largest-date-term-impact-covid.html