A recent study, published in the journal Hypertension by the American Heart Association, has suggested a potential link between COVID-19 and an increased risk of developing hypertension, even among individuals with no prior history of high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a known risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
The study, which involved over 45,000 individuals hospitalised for COVID-19, found that a significant number of them developed high blood pressure within six months after contracting the virus. Certain demographics, including people aged 40 and older, males, black adults, and those with pre-existing health conditions, were more likely to experience this development.
While similar effects were observed in individuals with influenza, the study highlighted that the impact was more pronounced in COVID-19 cases across all demographic groups. The research focused on patients in the Bronx, New York, a region known for its diverse population.
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Specifically, the study revealed that, six months after hospitalisation, 21% of COVID-19 patients and 11% of those who did not require hospitalisation for COVID-19 developed high blood pressure. In contrast, among individuals hospitalised for flu, 16% developed high blood pressure, while only 4% of those who did not require hospitalisation for flu experienced the same outcome.
Dr. Tim Q Duong, a professor of radiology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the senior study author, emphasised that while COVID-19 tends to be more severe in individuals with preexisting high blood pressure, including higher hospitalisation and mortality rates compared to those with normal blood pressure, it is still unclear whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself can trigger the development of high blood pressure or worsen existing hypertension.
