We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Impact of Timely Public Health Measures on Kidney Transplantation in Austria during the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak—A Nationwide Analysis.
- Authors
Watschinger, Bruno; Watschinger, Clara; Reindl-Schwaighofer, Roman; Meyer, Elias L.; Deak, Andras T.; Hammer, Tamara; Eigner, Manfred; Sprenger-Mähr, Hannelore; Schneeberger, Stefan; Cejka, Daniel; Mayer, Gert; Oberbauer, Rainer; Rosenkranz, Alexander R.; Kerschbaum, Julia
- Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 led to considerable morbidity/mortality worldwide and tremendously impacted on daily life. Strict lockdown measures were implemented early to contain the viral outbreak in Austria. Massive changes in organizational structures of healthcare facilities followed with unclear implications on the care of non-COVID-19-affected patients. We studied the nationwide impact of COVID-19 on kidney transplantation in Austria during the first six months of 2020. Concurrent with general lockdown measures, all kidney transplant activity was suspended from 13 March to 9 April. Nevertheless, between January and June, total transplant (p = 0.48) and procured donor organ numbers (p = 0.6) did not differ significantly from earlier years. Ten (0.18%) of 5512 prevalent Austrian kidney transplant recipients were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2. The case fatality rate (one death; 10%) in renal transplant patients was less than in other countries but higher than in Austria's general population (2.4%). We conclude that early and strict general lockdown measures imposed by the government allowed an early, however cautious, re-opening of Austrian transplant programs and played a crucial role for the favorable outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 in Austrian kidney transplant patients. Even though it may be uncertain whether similar results may be obtainable in other countries, the findings may support early intervention strategies during similar episodes in the future.
- Subjects
AUSTRIA; SARS-CoV-2; KIDNEY transplantation; HEALTH facilities; COVID-19; PUBLIC health
- Publication
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2020, Vol 9, Issue 11, p3465
- ISSN
2077-0383
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/jcm9113465