Jain P, Wu HHL, Ali W, Mamidi V, Chinnadurai R. Shadows of infection: Post-coronavirus disease condition and outcome patterns in patients receiving dialysis and kidney transplant recipients. World J Nephrol 2026; 15(3): 118018 [DOI: 10.5527/wjn.118018]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Rajkumar Chinnadurai, PhD, MRCP, Consultant, Donal O’Donoghue Renal Research Centre and Department of Renal Medicine, Northern Care Alliance National Health Service Foundation Trust, Stott Lane, Salford M6 8HD, United Kingdom. rajkumar.chinnadurai@nca.nhs.uk
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Urology & Nephrology
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review-article
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Jain P, Wu HHL, Ali W, Mamidi V, Chinnadurai R. Shadows of infection: Post-coronavirus disease condition and outcome patterns in patients receiving dialysis and kidney transplant recipients. World J Nephrol 2026; 15(3): 118018 [DOI: 10.5527/wjn.118018]
World J Nephrol. Sep 25, 2026; 15(3): 118018 Published online Sep 25, 2026. doi: 10.5527/wjn.118018
Shadows of infection: Post-coronavirus disease condition and outcome patterns in patients receiving dialysis and kidney transplant recipients
Pranesh Jain, Henry H L Wu, Weaam Ali, Varun Mamidi, Rajkumar Chinnadurai
Pranesh Jain, Weaam Ali, Varun Mamidi, Rajkumar Chinnadurai, Donal O’Donoghue Renal Research Centre and Department of Renal Medicine, Northern Care Alliance National Health Service Foundation Trust, Salford M6 8HD, United Kingdom
Henry H L Wu, Renal Research, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital and The University of Sydney, Sydney 2065, New South Wales, Australia
Author contributions: Jain P, Ali W, Mamidi V and Chinnadurai R designed the outline of this paper; Chinnadurai R coordinated the writing of the paper; Jain P, Ali W and Mamidi V conducted the literature search process and drafted the paper; Wu HHL and Chinnadurai R provided review of the draft versions of the paper prior to submission of the final version; all authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interests in this article.
Corresponding author: Rajkumar Chinnadurai, PhD, MRCP, Consultant, Donal O’Donoghue Renal Research Centre and Department of Renal Medicine, Northern Care Alliance National Health Service Foundation Trust, Stott Lane, Salford M6 8HD, United Kingdom. rajkumar.chinnadurai@nca.nhs.uk
Received: December 22, 2025 Revised: March 14, 2026 Accepted: April 9, 2026 Published online: September 25, 2026 Processing time: 235 Days and 11.8 Hours
Abstract
Post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) condition describes a constellation of persistent or fluctuating symptoms and organ dysfunction following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on dialysis and kidney transplant recipients (KTR) inhabit a landscape of immune dysfunction, multimorbidity, and high healthcare interaction, which may amplify both the risk and consequences of post-COVID condition (PCC). In this article, we aimed to review current evidence on PCC and related post-acute sequelae in dialysis patients and KTR-focusing on symptom burden, risk factors, functional outcomes, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), kidney and graft outcomes, and recovery trajectories. It was found that dialysis patients and KTR experience a substantial burden of PCC superimposed on already complex symptoms and risk profiles. Long COVID in these groups encompasses not only fatigue, dyspnea and a “brain fog” phenomenon but also impaired HRQoL, reduced functional recovery, and potential acceleration of kidney and graft decline. Harmonized PCC definitions, kidney-specific outcome measures, and prospective multicentre studies in ESKD and kidney transplant populations are urgently required to inform prevention and management strategies embedded within the dialysis and kidney transplantation pathways.
Core Tip: Post-coronavirus disease condition (PCC) is increasingly recognized amongst patients receiving dialysis and kidney transplant recipients following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. In these populations, persistent symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea and cognitive impairment may coexist with reduced functional recovery, impaired quality of life and potential graft or kidney decline. Interpretation is complicated by high baseline symptom burden and heterogeneous PCC definitions. This review summarizes current evidence on epidemiology, risk factors and outcomes of PCC in kidney failure populations and highlights priorities for future research and clinical management.
