Dialysis treatment for hemodialysis patients with COVID-19 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Oxygen and Medical Care Station

Abstract

Dialysis patients are at high risk for severe illness due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, all dialysis patients with COVID-19 must be hospitalized for treatment. However, in Tokyo, only a limited number of hospitals can accept dialysis patients with COVID-19, many of whom were unable to be hospitalized when the number of new COVID-19 positive patients rapidly increased. Therefore, in December 2021, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government opened several temporary medical facilities (Oxygen and Medical Care Stations) to provide medical care such as oxygen administration and neutralizing antibody therapy to patients with mild to moderate COVID-19. Among them, one facility was available for hemodialysis treatment. The present study investigated the outcomes for hemodialysis patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to this facility between January 1 and August 31, 2022. The number of hospitalized hemodialysis patients was 211 (mean age 65.1 years). The neutralizing antibody sotrovimab and the antiviral agent molnupiravir were mainly administered at this facility. Ninety-two percent of these patients were discharged home, 6.2％ were transferred to an acute care hospital due to exacerbation, and 1 patient died. This facility contributed to shortening hospitalization waiting lists for hemodialysis patients with COVID-19 and alleviating the tight supply of hospital beds in Tokyo. In addition, treatment for COVID-19 helped to prevent exacerbation. Thus, operation of the facility was effective.