Abstract: PO0083
An ISN-DOPPS Survey of the Global Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on In-Centre Haemodialysis Services
Session Information
- COVID-19: Health Systems and More
November 04, 2021 | Location: On-Demand, Virtual Only
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- 000 Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Authors
- Aylward, Ryan E., University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Bieber, Brian, Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Guedes, Murilo Henrique, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
- Pisoni, Ronald L., Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Tannor, Elliot Koranteng, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana
- Dreyer, Gavin, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, London, United Kingdom
- Liew, Adrian, Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore, Singapore
- Luyckx, Valerie A., Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Singh Shah, Dibya, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Phiri, Chimota Thomas, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Southern Region, Malawi
- Evans, Rhys David Russell, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Jha, Vivekanand, The George Institute for Global Health, New Delhi, India
- Pecoits-Filho, Roberto, Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Robinson, Bruce M., Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Caskey, Fergus, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, United Kingdom
Group or Team Name
- ISN DOPPS collaboration
Background
Haemodialysis units (HDUs) have had to rapidly adapt practices and policies to safely continue life-sustaining HD services during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to describe the impact of COVID-19 in different parts of the world.
Methods
The Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) and International Society of Nephrology (ISN) collaborated to web-survey individual HDUs. Responses were obtained in three ways: (1) a survey of DOPPS sites in China (May/ June 2020), (2) a random sample (20 units if > 40 units/ country; all units if < 40) stratified by region and HDU census (November 2020 – March 2021), and (3) an open invitation via ISN’s membership list and social media (March 2021). Responses were compared between the ten ISN regions.
Results
There were returns from 412 HDUs (46% public sector, 79% urban; 70% adult, 2% paediatric, 28% adult & paediatric) from 78 countries (9% low-, 24% lower-middle-, 28% upper-middle-, 39% high-income).
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on dialysis services and staffing worldwide. Differences in uptake of policies and practices across regions have likely been because of variable access to resources to enable implementation of diagnostic testing algorithms and adequate supply of PPE to implement infection prevention and control recommendations. Guidance should be consistent, adaptable to (nearly) all situations and locations, and evidence based. Going forward, the operationalisation of vaccine programs should be incorporated into guidelines. Disruptions to dialysis services should be minimised, and resource provision (including vaccines) prioritised by policymakers and governments in future waves of COVID-19 and pandemics if we are to protect HD patients, staff, and services.
Dialysis facility COVID-19 related resources, practices, and outcomes, as reported unit manager at each participating site