During the early stages of the pandemic, it was clear that COVID-19 affected many organs. Even for those with mild COVID-19, the pain can often be felt throughout the body. Learn more about what research has shown us on how COVID-19 affects the organs, specifically the kidneys.*

What organs had the highest viral load?

The viral load (measured as the number of copies per cell) among autopsies differed in organs. In descending order, the organs most affected were:

1. Respiratory Tract
2. Kidneys
3. Heart, Liver, Brain, and Blood

What risk factors are associated with kidney damage and COVID-19?

According to one study, 32% of COVID-19 patients develop AKI. The risk factors associated with COVID-19 and AKI were: 

• Older Age
• Obesity
• Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
• Hypertension
• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
• Male Gender
• African-American Descent

What were the outcomes of AKI with COVID-19?

During a COVID-19 infection, AKI was seen to increase the risk of:

• Mechanical Ventilation
• Risk of Mortality
• Prolonged Inpatient Treatment

Even after recovery of COVID-19 infection, nearly half of the patients did not have full kidney function and 12% of AKI patients required dialysis. Many patients who do not recover kidney function will transition to CKD. 

What did autopsy research find on kidney damage?

In a study that analyzed 63 autopsies of COVID-19 deceased patients, the virus was directly detected in 60% of patients. Specific findings of these patients included:

• The time interval between COVID-19 diagnosis and death was significantly shorter when the virus was detectable in the kidneys.
• AKI was associated with the virus being detectable in the kidneys.
• When the virus was isolated from autopsied kidney tissue, the viruses were capable of replication (increasing a thousandfold in 48 hours). 

*COVID-19 as systemic disease: What does that mean for kidneys? (2021, June 7). Medical Xpress. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-06-covid-disease-kidneys.html