THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE PATIENTS

rom the impact on transportation to dialysis to the effect of shutdowns on services, many questions exist about how the COVID‐19 pandemic affected the care and support of people with kidney disease. An interdisciplinary team of researchers plans to shed light on the subject with a two‐year study that begins in 2023.

“Our key aim is to produce an evidence‐informed base of recommendations to think about pandemic preparedness—what are things to consider and plan for ahead of time, so we’re not trying to figure that out in the moment, but rather have some principles guiding that work,” said David Nicholas, a University of Calgary social work professor who specializes in kidney care. Nicholas leads the study.

Other goals include devising recommendations to guide care during the recovery period after the pandemic and evaluating the effectiveness of shifts and innovations in care that emerged during the COVID‐19 pandemic, such as virtual care.

To conduct the study, the team, which includes doctors, social workers, and a post‐doctoral fellow, will work with renal care clinics in Edmonton, Calgary, and London to identify and interview people with kidney disease as well as their family members and friends who support them. “We’re looking at six groups of patients and 10 patients per group,” Nicholas said. Researchers will group participants in age cohorts that stretch from children to older adults.