Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34015009›Full record

ArticlePloS one2021

COVID-19 and the kidney: A retrospective analysis of 37 critically ill patients using machine learning.

Anna Laura Herzog, Holger K von Jouanne-Diedrich, Christoph Wanner, Dirk Weismann, Tobias Schlesinger, Patrick Meybohm, Jan Stumpner

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.1field-weighted citation impact, top 53% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. COVID-19 associated acute kidney injury.Infectious diseases & immunity · 2025
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Anna Laura HerzogDivision of Nephrology, Medizinische Klinik I, Transplantationszentrum, University of Würzburg, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-1767-8964
Holger K von Jouanne-DiedrichFaculty of Engineering, Competence Centre for Artificial Intelligence, TH Aschaffenburg (University of Applied Sciences), Aschaffenburg, Germany.
Christoph WannerDivision of Nephrology, Medizinische Klinik I, University of Würzburg, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Dirk WeismannIntensive Care Unit, Medizinische Klinik I, University of Würzburg, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Tobias SchlesingerDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Würzburg, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-1044-3086
Patrick MeybohmDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Würzburg, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Jan StumpnerDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Würzburg, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
University of Würzburg · DEAschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThere is evidence that SARS-CoV2 has a particular affinity for kidney tissue and is often associated with kidney failure.

methodsWe assessed whether proteinuria can be predictive of kidney failure, the development of chronic kidney disease, and mortality in 37 critically ill COVID-19 patients. We used machine learning (ML) methods as decision trees and cut-off points created by the OneR package to add new aspects, even in smaller cohorts.

resultsAmong a total of 37 patients, 24 suffered higher-grade renal failure, 20 of whom required kidney replacement therapy. More than 40% of patients remained on hemodialysis after intensive care unit discharge or died (27%). Due to frequent anuria proteinuria measured in two-thirds of the patients, it was not predictive for the investigated endpoints; albuminuria was higher in patients with AKI 3, but the difference was not significant. ML found cut-off points of >31.4 kg/m2 for BMI and >69 years for age, constructed decision trees with great accuracy, and identified highly predictive variables for outcome and remaining chronic kidney disease.

conclusionsDifferent ML methods and their clinical application, especially decision trees, can provide valuable support for clinical decisions. Presence of proteinuria was not predictive of CKD or AKI and should be confirmed in a larger cohort.

Indexed as

Machine LearningAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBody Mass IndexCOVID-19Critical IllnessFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisProteinuriaRenal Insufficiency, ChronicRenal Replacement TherapyRetrospective Studies

Identifiers

PMID34015009
PMCPMC8136725
OpenAlexW3135272772

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.