Associations of arterial hypertension and the severity of the course of a new coronavirus infection

Abstract

Discussions continue about the effect of arterial hypertension (AH) on the course and prognosis of COVID-19 infection, while interest in the effect of antihypertensive therapy (AHT), primarily angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), on the course of the disease does not weaken. Aim of the study was to investigate the associations of AH, AHT and the severity of the course of coronavirus infection in Novosibirsk patients. Material and methods. Study design: a single-stage observational study. The study included 268 patients aged 26–84 years (47.5 % men) who underwent COVID-19. All patients underwent anthropometry, echocardiography, and anamnesis data were evaluated. Laboratory studies were carried out using enzyme immunoassay. Results. Patients with AH and moderate/severe COVID-19 had higher values of glucose, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and left ventricular mass in terms of height (LVM/height) than patients with mild course. Diastolic blood pressure was significantly less in moderate and severe course than in mild course. The chance of severe COVID-19 in patients with AH is 11 % higher with an increase in BMI by 1 kg/m2 (1.110, 95 % CI 1.042–1.182, p = 0.001), by 3.9 % with an increase of 1 cm (1.039, 95 % CI, 1.013–1.066, p = 0.003). Regular use of AHT reduced the chance of severe COVID-19 by 2.3 times. Conclusions. In patients with AH, glucose levels, WC, BMI, and LVL/height are associated with a more severe course of COVID-19. The chance of having a moderate and severe course of COVID-19 in patients with AH is 11% higher with an increase in BMI by 1 kg/m2, by 3.9 % with an increase of 1 cm. With regular AHT, the chance of moderate and severe COVID-19 decreased 2.3 times.