3 June

Millions of COVID-19 patients may have an undiagnosed, potentially fatal acute kidney disease, according to a new study. University of Queensland researchers say one in five virus patients admitted to hospital and two in five in intensive care develop acute kidney disease (AKI), a condition where the kidneys fail to filter waste from the blood. University of Queensland PhD candidate and kidney specialist Dr Marina Wainstein says a new study indicates AKI rates in COVID-19 patients could be double that. Doctors test for the disease by monitoring a patient's urination and creatinine levels in their blood, but Dr Wainstein says if a patient's creatinine levels rise before they're hospitalised they may not be diagnosed with AKI.