@article{Fazendeiro Matos_Peralta_Felix_Pinto_Ponce_2022, place={Lisbon, Portugal}, title={Vaccination Against COVID-19 in a Network of Hemodialysis Units in Portugal: A Promising Experience}, volume={35}, url={https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/16250}, DOI={10.20344/amp.16250}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) seriously affected Portugal, particularly in the elderly population with a high number of comorbidities, including patients with chronic kidney disease in stage 5 (CKD-5D) undergoing a regular dialysis program. The aims of this study were to identify the impact of vaccination on the incidence of new daily cases and mortality in the CKD-5D population.<br /><strong>Material and Methods:</strong> Prospective, observational study, involving patients with CKD-5D from 38 NephroCare clinics, Portugal. Daily SARS-CoV-2 infections and mortality among these patients was compared with the incidence in the general population. Three periods were analysed: before vaccination, during the vaccination process, and a third period after complete vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech’ Comirnaty® vaccine. The primary outcome was infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the secondary outcome was death associated with the infection.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 4617 patients (average of 69.37 years of age) were analysed. During the first period, there was a significantly higher COVID-19 incidence of 14.9% in patients with CKD-5D compared with the general population (7.9%; p < 0.001). During the fifteen days after the complete vaccination, results reverted to a significant decrease in COVID-19 cases was observed (p < 0.001). The mortality rate among CKD-5D was significantly higher than in the general population (p < 0.001).<br /><strong>Discussion:</strong> A high incidence rate of infection was observed in CKD-5D patients, probably due to several factors such as advanced age, number of comorbidities, inability to remain in confinement, among others. After vaccination there was a significant reduction of new cases.<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Vaccination significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with CKD-5D.</p>}, number={5}, journal={Acta Médica Portuguesa}, author={Fazendeiro Matos, João and Peralta, Ricardo and Felix, Carla and Pinto, Bruno and Ponce, Pedro}, year={2022}, month={May}, pages={336–342} }