COVID-19 Vaccination Reduces Risk of Kidney Injury, Dialysis

⁢ Updated June⁤ 13, 2025
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Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who had received vaccinations ‍and subsequently developed acute kidney injury (AKI) experienced more favorable outcomes compared to their unvaccinated counterparts, according ⁤to a new study. The research ⁤indicates that vaccinated individuals were ⁣less likely ⁣to require continued dialysis following discharge and demonstrated a higher ⁤survival rate.

AKI is a ‍frequent complication in COVID-19 patients, potentially leading to decreased⁤ kidney function or, in severe instances, ⁤the necessity for dialysis. The long-term effects on kidney health and survival remained unclear⁣ until this study.

The findings,slated for publication ⁢in Kidney Medicine,suggest that COVID-19 vaccination can mitigate ⁤long-term kidney function ⁤decline and mortality risk. ⁣Dr. Niloofar Nobakht,⁤ a ⁤health sciences clinical associate ⁣professor of medicine⁣ at UCLA’s David ⁣Geffen School of Medicine, led the research.

“The COVID-19 vaccine⁣ is an meaningful ‍intervention,” Nobakht said, “that can decrease the chances of developing ⁤complications from the COVID-19 infection in patients hospitalized with acute kidney injuries.” She emphasized the importance of discussing vaccination benefits with doctors,as it can ⁢reduce the likelihood of needing dialysis and its associated complications.

Researchers analyzed data from approximately 3,500 patients hospitalized ⁣with COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and March 30, 2022. Among them, 972 ⁣developed AKI; 42.3% were unvaccinated, while 48% had received at least two doses of ⁢an⁤ mRNA⁢ vaccine⁣ (Pfizer or Moderna) or one dose of⁣ Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine. The study highlights ⁤the importance of COVID-19 ‍vaccination for kidney health.

The study revealed that 15.8% of unvaccinated patients were more likely‍ to require continuous renal ⁢replacement therapy (CRRT), a type of dialysis for critically⁢ ill patients, compared⁢ to 10.9% of vaccinated patients.

Furthermore, unvaccinated patients faced 2.56 times greater odds of needing CRRT after discharge, a 5.54 times higher ‍risk of in-hospital death, and a 4.78 times⁢ higher risk of death⁣ during long-term follow-up,⁤ compared to vaccinated‍ patients. These findings underscore the protective benefits of COVID-19 vaccination against acute kidney injury.

Limitations of the study included missing ⁢baseline creatinine data and a lack of facts on COVID-19 illness severity, even though all patients required ‍hospitalization. The study also did not account for⁤ the effects of booster ⁤vaccinations.

“This study also emphasizes the importance of the need for continued research in understanding how COVID-19 infections affect the kidney and how we should manage and monitor ⁢kidney complications from COVID-19 ⁣infections to improve patient outcomes,” Nobakht said.

What’s next

Further‍ research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 on kidney function and to develop optimal management strategies for kidney complications following ‍infection. The role of booster vaccinations also warrants further inquiry.