Introduction:

The COVID-19 pandemic that occurred in 2019 most severely affected the older population and those with underlying diseases, these being risk factors for mortality. Circumstances present in renal patients on dialysis, so it is important to know what the impact of COVID-19 was on this population group.

Objective:

To understand and synthesise the existing scientific evidence on the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 disease in patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis.

Material and Method:

A systematic review was carried out based on the PRISMA statement, in which 23 articles from the PubMed and Scopus databases were analysed. Original articles in English and Spanish that excluded the paediatric population were included.

Results:

23 articles of observational design were included. Mainly the results focused on incidence, clinical characteristics, such as symptomatology or evolution, mortality and preventive measures in dialysis units.

Conclusions:

The incidence of COVID-19 was higher in dialysis units than in patients receiving home dialysis. The mildest symptomatology was common to the general population. In the most severe cases, about 50% of patients required hospitalisation and/or admission to an Intensive Care Unit. Mortality was quite high and was related to advanced age, comorbidity, male sex or clinical frailty. In addition, disease prevention measures were implemented in the dialysis units, as they are closed physical spaces where many patients are concentrated.