Kidney function in hospitalized children (<18 years) with COVID-19 at Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Yazd (2019-2020)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 School of Medicine, Yazd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran

2 Children Growth Disorder Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

3 Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

Abstract

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a concerning complication in pediatric COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate kidney function in hospitalized children with COVID-19 in Yazd, Iran.
Methods: This cross-sectional study retrospectively analyzed data from children (<18 years) hospitalized with COVID-19 at Shahid Sadoughi Hospital in 2019-2020. Data on demographics, clinical symptoms, laboratory results (including serum creatinine, BUN, and urinalysis), and outcomes were collected.
Results: In a cohort of 155 patients, the mean creatinine level was 0.84 mg/dL (SD=1.2). Children≤ 3 years had a mean creatinine of 0.95 mg/dL (SD = 1.51), while those> 3-18 years had 0.74 mg/dL (SD = 0.84). Overall, 16.77% (n=26) showed abnormal creatinine based on age-adjusted ranges. Creatinine levels were significantly associated with disease severity (p = 0.002); a greater proportion of severe/critical COVID-19 patients had normal creatinine. Most patients had negative proteinuria (96.3%, n = 184). Hematuria and leukocyturia were present in 33.93% and 88.23% of tested patients, respectively. Among those with BUN data, 67% (n = 70) had BUN>18. Survival was lower in patients with preexisting kidney disease (71.4%) versus those without (91.4%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.085).
Conclusions: Kidney dysfunction was observed in a subset of hospitalized children with COVID-19. Abnormal creatinine was associated with non-severe disease. Preexisting kidney disease was associated with poorer outcomes, although not statistically significant.

Keywords


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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 12 November 2025
  • Receive Date: 12 November 2025
  • Accept Date: 12 November 2025