CONCLUSION
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial effect on morbidity and
mortality in kidney replacement therapy patients affected by the
disease, peaking in elderly and diabetic patients. Despite the higher
risk of morbidity and mortality due to impaired immunity, kidney
transplantation from a deceased or living donor appears to be a safe
treatment modality for patients with end-stage renal failure even during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Mortality of the kidney transplant patients from
COVID-19 is significantly lower than the risk of infection and death
during a hemodialysis treatment. It is of vital importance that in
future pandemics the nephrology community has a crisis management and
protocols in place and be able to act swiftly to increase the safety of
their patients and mitigate the damage to their health as much as
possible. Transplant centers need to be flexible during a pandemic,
adopting both short-term and long-term changes along the way. Important
precautionary measures include early vaccination of at-risk groups,
including kidney transplant patients.