1Cademy - Hypertension in COVID-19 Global Data Analysis

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Hypertension in COVID-19 Global Data Analysis

From a review which pooled global results looking at hypertension in COVID-19 patient, there was an overall 2.49 (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.98–3.12; I2 = 24%; Cochran’s Q, P = 0.21) increase in infection and a 2.42 (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.51–3.9; I2 = 0%; Cochran’s Q, P = 0.33) increase in mortality.
A significant correlation between patients over 60 and infection rates were also noted (correlation coefficient, 0.04; P = 0.03).
It was noted that this may be due to the possibility that some hypertensive patients are on ACE inhibitor drugs and that these drugs may be increasing the amount of ACE2 inhibitors on cells and making these individuals more susceptible to infection.
The paper also recommended that hypertensive patients seek to avoid contagion risk more aggressively and monitor blood pressure constantly for possible spikes which are associated with organ failure.