Korean J Transplant.  2022 Nov;36(Supple 1):S347. 10.4285/ATW2022.F-4923.

COVID-19 infection in lung transplantation patients: single center analysis

• Woo A
• Park MS
• Lee J
• Kim HE

• KMID: 2535574
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4285/ATW2022.F-4923

Abstract

Background
The immune-compromised patients have been suffering from COVID-19, especially solid-organ transplantation patients. The respiratory system is vulnerable to the SARS-COV-2 virus, and the clinical characteristics and outcomes of lung transplantation patients in COVID-19 may be different from other solid organ transplantation patients.
Methods
We reviewed the electronic medical records of lung transplantation patients who were infected with COVID-19 from February 2020 to May 2022. The data for baseline demographic characteristics, COVID-19-associated symptoms, treatment for COVID-19, hospital admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mortality were collected and analyzed retrospectively.
Results
The first COVID infection was reported in December 2021. A total of 91 cases were diagnosed with COVID-19. Of those, three patients were infected twice, and one was infected three times. The patients who infected within 1 year after transplantation were accounted for 27.3% (n=21) of the overall population. The most common symptom was sore throat (28.5, n=22), fol-lowed by myalgia (22.1, n=17), and 42.8% of the patient were asymptomatic (only positive for the COVID-19 diagnostic test). The clinical outcomes were represented as hospital admission (40.3%, n=32), and ICU admission (10.4%, n=8). 90-day mortality was 6.5% (n=5). Time from transplantation, need for oxygen therapy and COVID-19-related medication were not associated with 90day mortality.
Conclusions
Lung transplantation patients with COVID-19 infection were requiring hospital admission more than the general population.