Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36803693›Full record

Observational studyBMC nephrology2023

COVID - 19 in two dialysis centers situated in two neighbouring states of the Western Balkans.

Enisa Mesic, Mirna Aleckovic-Halilovic, Karolina Paunovic, Alexander Woywodt, Mirha Pjanic, Goran Paunovic

Open access · goldAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC nephrology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact, top 98% 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

0 citing papers in PubMed, 0 citations in OpenAlex.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

6 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Enisa Mesic *Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, University Hospital Tuzla, Ulica Prof. Dr. Ibre Pašića, 75000, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Mirna Aleckovic-Halilovic *Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, University Hospital Tuzla, Ulica Prof. Dr. Ibre Pašića, 75000, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Karolina PaunovicNephrology Department, Niš Clinical Centre, Niš, Serbia.
Alexander WoywodtDepartment of Renal Medicine, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, Lancashire, UK.
Mirha PjanicDepartment of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, University Hospital Tuzla, Ulica Prof. Dr. Ibre Pašića, 75000, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. mirhapjanic93@gmail.com.
Goran PaunovicNephrology Department, Niš Clinical Centre, Niš, Serbia.
University of Nis · RSLancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · GBUniversity Clinical Center Tuzla · BA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Serbia are countries in the Western Balkans that share parts of their social and political legacy from the former Yugoslavia, such as their health care system and the fact that they are not members of European Union. There are very scarce data on COVID - 19 pandemic from this region when compared to other parts of the world and even less is known about its impact on the provision of renal care or differences between countries in the Western Balkans. MATERIALS AND

methodsThis observational prospective study was conducted in two regional renal centres in BiH and Serbia, during the COVID - 19 pandemic. We obtained demographic and epidemiological data, clinical course and outcomes of dialysis and transplant patients with COVID - 19 in both units. Data were collected a via questionnaire for two consecutive time periods: February - June 2020 with a total number of 767 dialysis and transplant patients in the two centres, and July - December 2020 with a total number of 749 studied patients, corresponding to two of the largest waves of the pandemic in our region. Departmental policies and infection control measures in both units were also recorded and compared.

resultsFor a period of 11 months, from February to December 2020, 82 patients on in-centre haemodialysis (ICHD), 11 peritoneal dialysis patients and 25 transplant patients who tested positive for COVID-19. In the first study period, the incidence of COVID - 19 positive in Tuzla was 1.3% among ICHD patients, and there were no positive peritoneal dialysis patients, or any transplant patients who tested positive. The incidence of COVID-19 was significantly higher in both centres in the second time period, which corresponds to the incidence in general population. Total deaths of COVID-19 positive patients was 0% in Tuzla and 45.5% in Niš during first, and 16.7% in Tuzla and 23.4% in Niš during the second period. There were notable differences in the national and local/departmental approach to the pandemic between the two centres.

conclusionThere was poor survival overall when compared to other regions of Europe. We suggest that this reflects the lack of preparedness of both of our medical systems for such situations. In addition, we describe important differences in outcome between the two centres. We emphasize the importance of preventative measures and infection control and highlight the importance of preparedness.

Indexed as

COVID-19Peritoneal DialysisBalkan PeninsulaHumansProspective StudiesRenal DialysisCOVID-19Health-system emergency preparednessInfection controlWestern Balkans

Identifiers

PMID36803693
PMCPMC9938731
OpenAlexW4321330726

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Registered trials

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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.