Health Science Reports (Aug 2023)
Blood pressure pattern among blood donors exposed to SARS‐CoV‐2 in Luanda, Angola: A retrospective study
Abstract
Abstract Background and Aims SARS‐CoV‐2 infection is a public health concern. Several aspects related to the pattern of infection remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the blood pressure pattern among blood donors exposed to SARS‐CoV‐2 in Luanda, Angola, a sub‐Saharan African country. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis containing 343 blood donors from December 2019 to September 2020. Parametric tests compared means while χ2 and logistic regression checked features associated with high blood pressure and were considered significant when p 0.05). A significant link was observed, between the Rhesus factor and blood pressure status (p = 0.032). Conclusion We showed important variations in blood pressure indices of the Angolan population exposed to SARS‐CoV‐2. Older age and non‐O blood groups appear to be important biological factors for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, as well as the risk of developing cardiovascular disease after or during SARS‐CoV‐2 exposure. Further studies assessing the impact on cardiovascular functions with ongoing or long‐term SARS‐CoV‐2 exposure in individuals from resource‐limited countries should be considered.
Keywords