Effects of the Omicron variant of coronavirus disease 2019 on anaemia treatment for patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis

Aim Patients undergoing dialysis are at high risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Haemoglobin (Hb) levels may be changed in patients infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 who are undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Therefore, we aimed to explore the effect of anti-anaemia treatment on such patients. Methods This study enrolled patients undergoing PD who were infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 at our centre between November 2022 and February 2023. We retrospectively analysed changes in Hb levels and explored the effectiveness of roxadustat and recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) for patients infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Results Among 125 enrolled patients, 83 (66.4%) were infected with the Omicron variant and 75 (90.4%) patients mainly experienced mild or moderate disease. During infection, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were higher than those before infection (p < .001). Additionally, their CRP levels were negatively correlated with Hb levels (p = .002). However, Hb levels were decreased 1 month after infection (109.61 +/- 10.64 g/L vs. 115.69 +/- 12.04 g/L; p < .001). The roxadustat treatment group did not exhibit significantly decreased Hb levels 1 month after infection (114.57 +/- 14.11 vs. 117.51 +/- 10.74 g/L; p = .225). Conversely, the rhEPO treatment group experienced a mild decrease in Hb levels (108.69 +/- 11.20 vs. 115.03 +/- 12.23 g/L; p = .001). Ferritin levels increased in both groups during infection (p = .495). Two months after infection, ferritin levels (median, 205.0 ng/mL) were significantly decreased compared with during infection (median, 377.4 ng/mL) (p < .001) in the roxadustat treatment group. Conclusion Roxadustat was effective than rhEPO for treating anaemia in patients undergoing PD who were infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19.