Infection and Drug Resistance (Apr 2024)

Prevalence of Hypertension and Diabetes in Severe COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study from Single Center, Kabul

  • Wardak MZ,
  • Daanish AF,
  • Mushkani EA,
  • Atiq MA

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 17
pp. 1677 – 1683

Abstract

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Mohammad Zobair Wardak,1 Ahmad Farid Daanish,2 Ershad Ahmad Mushkani,2 Mohammad Asif Atiq2 1Internal Medicine Specialist, Darussalam Hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan; 2Department of Pharmacology, Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, AfghanistanCorrespondence: Mohammad Asif Atiq, Department of Pharmacology, Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan, Tel +93777378141, Email [email protected]: Previous studies have reported an association between certain medical conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes, and severe COVID-19.Objective: To determine the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among severe COVID-19 patients who were admitted to the only specialized center for COVID-19 in Kabul, Afghan-Japan Hospital Kabul, Afghanistan.Methods: A cross-sectional design was utilized, including 202 patients, admitted to Afghan-Japan Hospital during the first six months of 2022. Medical records of patients tested positive for COVID-19 via Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with oxygen saturation levels below 90% at the time of admission were included in the study. Age, sex, and the presence of hypertension and diabetes were the studied variables. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.Results: The median age of the patients were 63 (IQR=54.75– 75) years. Males and females each accounting for 50% of the total, and the majority of the patients (50.5%) were in the age group 60– 79. Of 202 patients, 143 (70.8%) had hypertension, 42 (20.8%) had diabetes, 147 patients (72.77%) had at least one of these comorbidities. Fifty-five patients (27.22%) were without diabetes and without hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was higher among female, ie, 57.1% and 54.5% respectively. Patients in the 40– 59 year old group had the highest rate of hypertension (75.6%). The highest prevalence of diabetes was seen in the 60– 79 year old group.Conclusion: The study found a higher prevalence of hypertension in severe COVID-19 cases compared to global reports and the general adult population in Afghanistan. The relationship between hypertension and COVID-19 risk needs further investigation. The prevalence of diabetes was also higher, consistent with findings from other countries.Keywords: severe COVID-19, comorbidity, hypertension, diabetes

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