The impact of COVID-19 on kidney transplant activities in Brazil

a descriptive study

Authors

Keywords:

COVID-19, Kidney transplantation, Tissue and organ procurement, Epidemiology, Organ transplantation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has reached services, systems, and world society. Despite its certified efficiency, the Brazilian National Transplant System is not exempt from the side effects of COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: To compare kidney transplantation activity registered in Brazil between the pandemic (2020) and pre-pandemic (2019) periods. DESIGN AND SETTING: A descriptive study was conducted in March 2021. The annual reports of the Brazilian Transplantation Registry for 2019 and 2020 were included in this study. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive study of kidney transplant activity in Brazil in 2019 and 2020. RESULTS: A 23.9% decrease in kidney transplants per million population was observed during the pandemic period (22.9 in 2020 versus 30.1 in 2019). Kidney transplants with a living donor (-58.8%) and in the North Region (-79.5%) experienced the greatest declines. The pandemic waiting list increased by 6.8%, and deaths during the waiting period increased by 36.8%. The number of patients on the waiting list and transplant teams decreased by 31.3% and 9.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected Brazil and had a significant negative impact on KT activities in the country.

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Author Biographies

Reginaldo Passoni, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná

RN, MSc. Nurse, Department of Nursing, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná (UNIOSTE), Cascavel (PR), Brazil.

Bruno Gadonski, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná

Medicine Student, Center for Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná (UNIOSTE), Cascavel (PR), Brazil.

Ariana Rodrigues da Silva Carvalho, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná

RN, PhD. Professor, Postgraduate Program in Biosciences and Health, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná (UNIOSTE), Cascavel (PR), Brazil. 

Tainá Veras de Sanders Freitas, Universidade Federal do Ceará

MD, PhD. Professor, Departament of Clinical Medicine, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza (CE), Brazil

Luis Alberto Batista Peres, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná

MD, PhD. Professor, Postgraduate Program in Biosciences and Health, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná (UNIOSTE), Cascavel (PR), Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5863-6720

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Published

2023-01-05

How to Cite

1.
Passoni R, Gadonski B, Carvalho AR da S, Freitas TV de S, Peres LAB. The impact of COVID-19 on kidney transplant activities in Brazil: a descriptive study. Sao Paulo Med J [Internet]. 2023 Jan. 5 [cited 2025 Mar. 14];141(1):60-6. Available from: https://periodicosapm.emnuvens.com.br/spmj/article/view/420

Issue

Vol. 141 No. 1 (2023)

Section

Original Article

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