A new study has found that people hospitalized with Covid-19 who developed acute kidney injury (AKI) had better outcomes if they had received a Covid vaccine compared to those who were unvaccinated. The research offers fresh insight into how vaccines help beyond preventing severe respiratory symptoms—this time, by lowering long-term risks for kidney patients.Understanding Acute Kidney Injury and Covid-19Acute kidney injury is a common complication seen in people infected with the Covid-19 virus. Studies estimate that as many as 46 percent of hospitalized Covid patients may experience some form of AKI. While some cases are mild and reversible, others are serious enough to require dialysis and may lead to lasting kidney damage or even death. Despite being a known risk, the long-term outcomes of AKI in Covid patients haven’t been well studied—until now.What the New Research RevealsConducted by a team from the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), the study examined nearly 3,500 patients hospitalized with Covid-19 between March 2020 and March 2022. Out of these, 972 individuals developed acute kidney injury. Among them, 411 were unvaccinated and 467 had received at least two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.Published in the peer-reviewed journal Kidney Medicine, the study found clear benefits of vaccination. Vaccinated patients were significantly more likely to survive, less likely to require ongoing dialysis, and faced fewer long-term risks compared to those who hadn’t been vaccinated.Lower Need for Dialysis in Vaccinated PatientsOne of the key findings was that vaccinated patients were less dependent on dialysis, especially a type used for critically ill individuals called continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). About 15.8 percent of unvaccinated patients needed CRRT, compared to just 10.9 percent of vaccinated patients.This difference carried over even after discharge. Unvaccinated patients were found to be 2.56 times more likely to continue needing dialysis after leaving the hospital.Survival Rates Significantly Better With VaccinationThe most alarming gap emerged in survival outcomes. The study found that unvaccinated patients had a 5.54 times higher risk of dying while in the hospital. Even more strikingly, they were 4.78 times more likely to die during long-term follow-up than those who had been vaccinated.These statistics underline not only the short-term protection that Covid vaccines offer but also their role in reducing longer-term complications, especially in vulnerable patients with other serious conditions like AKI.Experts Urge Vaccination to Reduce ComplicationsCommenting on the findings, researchers stressed the importance of vaccination as a protective measure against the worst outcomes of Covid-19. “The Covid vaccine is an important intervention that can decrease the chances of developing complications from the Covid-19 infection in patients hospitalised with acute kidney injuries,” said the lead researcher from UCLA.They further advised that individuals should discuss vaccination with their healthcare providers, especially those at risk of kidney complications. Avoiding dialysis can drastically improve a person’s quality of life and reduce the risk of further medical issues.