Clinical and Experimental Hypertension (Jul 2022)

A retrospective analysis of incidence and severity of COVID-19 among hypertensive patients: the other side

  • Crhistian-Mario Oblitas,
  • Ana Torres-Do-Rego,
  • Alejandra García García,
  • Víctor Mato-Jimeno,
  • Leyre Alonso Gonzalo,
  • Sara Luis-García,
  • Andrés Enríquez-Gómez,
  • Mercedes Baltasar-López,
  • Elena Bello-Martínez

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/10641963.2022.2071916
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 44, no. 5
pp. 459 – 463

Abstract

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Objective The role of hypertension in COVID-19 has not been clearly elucidated yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in a hypertensive population and assess whether there is a link between blood pressure control and SARS-CoV-2 infection outcomes. Methods This was a single-center retrospective observational study that evaluated the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in a chronic hypertensive population (n=1,637) from a specialized consultation of Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk of Internal Medicine in a tertiary hospital in Madrid (Spain). Results A total of 147 COVID-19 patients (9%) were found, with a median age of 59 (±14) years, where 77 (52.4%) patients were male. Forty patients required hospitalization (27.2%), 15 patients had severe COVID-19 (10.2%), and 6 patients died (4.1%). Among the causes of hypertension, 104 (70.7%) patients had essential hypertension and 22 (15%) patients presented primary hyperaldosteronism; and 66 (44.9%) patients presented RH. Severe COVID-19 was associated with age over 65 years (crude OR 4.43 [95% CI 1.3–14.2; p = .012]) and diabetes mellitus (crude OR 4.15 [95% CI 1.3–12.9; p = .014]). Conclusion This study showed a lower rate of incidence, hospitalization, and severity of COVID-19 in the hypertensive population.

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