Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 30, 2025 1 day, 8 hours, 11 minutes ago
Medical News: A major new review by researchers from the University of São Paulo in Brazil has revealed alarming findings that COVID-19 may be causing long-term kidney damage in a significant number of survivors. The study, conducted by experts from the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), paints a worrying picture of how the virus continues to silently affect organs long after the initial infection.
COVID-19 Linked to Dangerous Kidney Complications in Millions Worldwide
This
Medical News report covers a scoping review led by Dr. Marcella M. Frediani, Dr. Heitor S. Ribeiro, Dr. Geraldo F. Busatto, Dr. Carlos R. R. Carvalho, and Dr. Emmanuel A. Burdmann. The study examined over 1.3 million COVID-19 survivors from 37 studies across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, and found compelling evidence that kidney function can deteriorate over time—even in patients who appeared to have recovered from the virus.
Long COVID Is Not Just Fatigue or Brain Fog—Your Kidneys Could Be in Trouble Too
Most of us have heard about Long COVID symptoms such as tiredness, memory issues, or shortness of breath. But what’s far less known is how COVID-19 may slowly damage the kidneys, resulting in what researchers are now calling renal long COVID. The review revealed that many patients, especially those who experienced acute kidney injury (AKI) during hospitalization, faced a much higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) later on.
The numbers are startling. In patients who had AKI while battling COVID-19, up to 49% went on to develop or worsen existing kidney disease. On the other hand, those who had mild or no kidney issues during the initial infection saw much lower rates of CKD. However, even these lower rates still represent thousands of individuals who may face serious health problems in the coming years.
Tracking the Silent Decline of Kidney Health
The researchers found that most studies used simple blood tests to track kidney function, especially markers like serum creatinine (sCr) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). These tests showed that a worrying number of patients had declining kidney function months after their COVID-19 infection had resolved. Some even became dependent on kidney dialysis, especially those who had been severely ill.
Interestingly, few studies looked at other warning signs like protein or albumin levels in urine—important early indicators of kidney damage. This shows that current medical follow-ups may not be thorough enough to catch all cases of renal long COVID before serious damage occurs.
Who Is Most at Risk
The review identified several risk factors for developing kidney complications after COVID-19. These include older age, being male, having diabetes, being admitted to intensive care units, or having pre-existing kidney problems. The researchers also highlighted that people from disadvantaged backgrounds might be hit har
dest due to unequal access to healthcare and delayed diagnosis.
Conclusions and Call for Global Action
The researchers strongly recommend that all COVID-19 survivors—especially those who were hospitalized or had AKI—undergo regular kidney checkups for at least a year after recovery. This should include not just basic blood tests, but also urine tests and even newer biomarkers when available.
They also urge public health systems to recognize renal long COVID as a real and pressing issue. Early detection and lifestyle interventions—like better nutrition, blood pressure control, and avoiding kidney-harming medications—could help slow or stop progression to irreversible kidney failure.
Ultimately, the study underscores the fact that COVID-19’s impact doesn’t end when you test negative. The virus may leave behind lingering damage that goes unnoticed until it’s too late.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Kidney Medicine.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590059525000755
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