New research published in the American Heart Association journal “Hypertension” has revealed a significant association between Covid-19 infection and the development of high blood pressure. This study, which analyzed electronic medical records of over 45,000 individuals, represents the first to compare the development and risk factors of persistent high blood pressure in Covid-19 patients to those with influenza, a similar respiratory virus.
The study found that Covid-19 infection was linked to an increased risk of developing high blood pressure. Hypertension is typically defined as having blood pressure readings equal to or greater than 130/80 mm Hg, as outlined in the 2017 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults.
“While Covid-19 is typically more severe in patients with preexisting high blood pressure, including higher rates of hospitalisation and mortality compared to people with normal blood pressure, it is unknown whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus may trigger the development of high blood pressure or worsen preexisting hypertension,” stated senior study author Tim Q Duong, PhD, professor of radiology and vice chair for radiology research and associate director of Integrative Imaging and Data Science at the Center for Health and Data Innovation at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System in New York City.
Researchers examined electronic medical records from the Montefiore Health System in the Bronx, New York, which serves a diverse population with varying socioeconomic backgrounds. The study participants were primarily from communities with low socioeconomic status, potentially making them more susceptible to developing high blood pressure after Covid-19 infection. Other contributing factors to the development of high blood pressure among these patients include the effects of isolation, psychosocial stress, reduced physical activity, unhealthy diets, and weight gain during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Given the sheer number of people affected by Covid-19 compared to influenza, these statistics are alarming and suggest that many more patients will likely develop high blood pressure in the future, which may present a major public health burden,” Duong stated. “These findings should heighten awareness to screen at-risk patients for hypertension after Covid-19 illness to enable earlier identification and treatment for hypertension-related complications, such as cardiovascular and kidney disease.”
The study’s authors also noted that additional, longer-term research will be necessary to determine whether the effects of Covid-19-related complications on heart health and blood pressure regulation may resolve over time or if there could be lasting impacts on patients’ cardiovascular systems.
This research highlights the potential cardiovascular consequences of Covid-19 infection and emphasizes the importance of monitoring and managing blood pressure in individuals who have been infected with the virus. Further investigation is required to better understand the relationship between Covid-19 and its impact on long-term heart health.
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