Background Systematic reviews have shown a high prevalence of long-term persistent sequelae after COVID-19. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and risk factors associated with long‐lasting clinical symptoms (LLCS) in survivors on chronic dialysis at 6 months after the onset of acute COVID-19 infection in the pre-vaccination period. Methods This national cohort study included all French patients on dialysis who had SARS-Cov-2 infection between March and December 2020 and who were alive and still on dialysis 6 months after infection. A form was filled in at 6 months concerning the presence of the following persistent symptoms: extreme fatigue, headache, muscle or weight loss of > 5%, respiratory sequelae, tachycardia, chest pain, joint or muscle pain, persistent anosmia or ageusia, diarrhea, sensory disorders, neuro-cognitive disorders, post-traumatic stress syndrome, depression, and anxiety. Results Complete survey results were available for 1217 patients (25.2% of those included); 216 (17.7%) had some LLCS. Probability of 6-month LLCS was higher in patients who were hospitalized in a medical or intensive care unit: OR 1.64 (95% CI 1.16–2.33) and 5.03 (2.94–8.61), respectively. Younger patients had a lower probability of LLCS. Each year on dialysis, as well as diabetes, overweight or obesity were associated with a higher probability of LLCS by 1.03 (1.01–1.06), 1.53 (1.08–2.17), 1.96 (1.10–3.52) and 2.35 (1.30–4.26), respectively. Conclusions This national study shows that at least one in six patients on dialysis who have COVID-19 will have LLCS. Systematic screening in dialysis patients would allow us to identify those who need more careful prevention and long-term care and to address them towards a rehabilitation pathway.

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