Do lifestyle changes of renal transplant recipients during the pandemic reduce the risk of COVID-19?

Introduction There is no published study regarding effect of preventive measures on COVID-19 frequency in renal transplantation recipients. Aim of this study is to reveal the preventive measures taken by renal transplant recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether these measures influence the prevalence of the disease. Materials and Methods After detection of the first COVID-19 case in Turkey, we briefed all our renal transplant recipients on preventive measures regarding COVID-19. Two months after, a questionnaire was prepared regarding the preventive measures practiced by renal transplant recipients and patients were asked if they had any COVID-19 symptoms or received COVID-19 diagnosis. Result Among 132 patients, 68 were surveyed through telephone calls. During this time, 95.5% of patients were in isolation at home except for their essential needs. Two patients (2%) were hospitalized due to increase in creatinine level and urinary tract infection. All patients have worn masks when going out and stated that they washed their hands more frequently. There was a decrease in the frequency of hospital controls in 79.4% of patients. Although 2(2.9%) patients had complaints of dysuria and fever, they did not apply to the hospital because they thought hospitals carried risk during the pandemic. One patient had cough with fever and admitted to the hospital with suspicion of COVID-19 and tested negative. Discussion It was determined that renal transplant recipients in our study population meticulously complied preventive measures, increased the use of masks and hand hygiene practices, and as a result, none were infected with SARS-CoV-2.