This is a prospective observational cohort study that will aim to recruit 60 participants who have had COVID-19, were admitted to hospital, required intensive care, and/or developed AKI during their hospital stay. Potential participants will be approached either by telephone by a member of the research team or via clinics (nephrology, post-ICU follow up clinics).
After the participants have read and understand the Participant Information Sheet, and had
sufficient time (at least 24 hours) to consider their participation in this study, the
investigators will ask them to sign a consent form, which shows their willingness to take
part. The investigators will then collect information from their medical records about their
hospital admission with COVID-19, including their age, ethnicity, medical conditions, length
of hospital stay, tablets or any other treatments they received, as well as details of their
stay in the ICU. The investigators will also arrange their first study visit which should be
3-6 months after they had been discharged from the hospital. During this first study day, the
investigators will:
- Measure weight and height and take blood pressure.
- Take blood and urine samples.
- Ask participants to complete three questionnaires about their health, symptoms of
fatigue and quality of life (SF-36, EQ-5D-5L and Fatigue Questionnaires).
- Measure the accumulation of toxins in the skin using a safe, quick (less than five
minutes) and painless technique called skin autofluorescence. This involves placing the
forearm on a piece of equipment that shines a light on the skin and measures the amount
of light that is reflected back.
- Conduct an MRI scan of the kidneys, muscles, abdomen and heart. The MRI scan will take
60-70 minutes in total. The investigators will ask participants not to eat or drink
anything two hours before the MRI scan.
After this visit, the investigators will ask participants to come back for two more study
visits, which will be arranged at 12 and 24 months after their hospital discharge. These
visits will consist of the same procedures and measurements done in the first study visit.
Procedure: MRI scans
This study does not involve any intervention or new treatment. We will conduct MRI scans of the kidneys, muscles, abdomen and heart at baseline, 12 and 24 months after hospital discharge. The MRI scan will take 60-70 minutes in total.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Adult patients aged 18 years or older.
2. Swab result positive for SARS-CoV-2.
3. Patients admitted to the hospital for ≥24 hrs.
4. Patients who received ICU care OR who sustained AKI stage 2/3 (as per KDIGO serum
creatinine criteria).
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Patients > 90 years of age.
2. Patients on haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis or pre-existing CKD stage 5 (eGFR
<15ml/min/1.73m2).
3. Solid organ transplant.
4. Inability/refusal to give informed consent to participate.
5. Contraindications to MRI scan - claustrophobia, metal body implants, extensive tatoos,
inability to lie supine for 1 hour.
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Derby, Derbyshire, United Kingdom
Maarten Taal, Professor, Principal Investigator
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust