in the beginning Epidemic It was clear that older adults and those with underlying health problems were much more likely to become ill from a COVID infection than younger, healthier people.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most common conditions in the general population, especially among those who are middle-aged and older. It also seemed to be one of the most common situations among covid Patients, especially those who were hospitalized or who had died.
In a new study, we found that people with high blood pressure have a 22% higher risk of being hospitalized or dying from the virus than those who don’t. high blood pressure,
Although there seemed to be a link between high blood pressure and COVID from the start of the pandemic, it was unclear whether high blood pressure itself caused a higher risk of hospitalization or death from COVID.
The link could have been confounded by age and other factors that lead to higher . both were known to influence blood pressure and COVID risk, including socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity and body mass index (BMI).
We used data from the UK Biobank, a research database that includes in-depth genetic and health information from half a million UK volunteers. Our study included more than 16,000 of these people who tested positive for COVID. The data we analyzed spanned from March 2020 to early 2021.
Using statistical models, we analyzed the effect of having high blood pressure on the risk of severe covidAdjusting for potential confounding factors (including age, BMI, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, smoking status and diabetes status).
Unfortunately, rates of blood pressure control in the UK and more broadly have worsened in the wake of the pandemic (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
A limitation of our study is that the UK Biobank volunteer population is generally healthier than the UK population and has relatively few participants from ethnic minority groups. This means we need to be cautious about making generalisations.
So, why may increase your risk of getting high blood pressure? a COVID infection, An intriguing hypothesis involves the way SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) enters our cells. It does so through a receptor called angiotensin converting enzyme-2, or ACE2. ACE2 is a key component of what is known as the renin–angiotensin system, which is a key regulator of blood pressure.
It may be that the angiotensin system provides the link between COVID severity and high blood pressure. But at this stage we can only speculate. We will need further research to understand the exact mechanism.
blood pressure control
when a person has high blood pressureIf it is not severe, it can be controlled with lifestyle interventions at first. But if that doesn’t work, blood pressure medications will usually be considered.
In another part of our analysis, we looked at all participants with high blood pressure who were taking medications to lower their blood pressure. Sometimes, for a number of possible reasons, even though one is being treated MedicineHis blood pressure remains above a certain target.
We used blood pressure measurements from the participants’ GP records to determine whether their blood pressure was controlled. For those with poorly controlled blood pressure, we found that the risk of severe COVID was almost twice that of those who were diagnosed with hypertension but had blood pressure under control.
We also showed that the type of blood pressure medication people were taking did not modify the risk of serious covid, This is worth noting because during the pandemic there has been a lot of uncertainty about which blood pressure drugs should be prescribed.
In particular, there was concern that a type of drug called an ACE inhibitor could alter the expression of ACE2 receptors, which could theoretically make people taking this drug more vulnerable to severe COVID-19.
What matters is whether or not blood pressure is being controlled successfully (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
But we found no association between the type of blood pressure medication used and the risk of severe COVID. What is important is whether the blood pressure is being controlled successfully.
a public health problem
High blood pressure is the leading risk factor of death from any cause in the UK and worldwide. It also disproportionately affects people from low-income groups and ethnic minority backgrounds in Western countries. And within these groups, rates of blood pressure control tend to be poor.
This may help explain why ethnic minorities and low-income groups in the UK have been affected by COVID.
Thanks in large part to effective vaccines and treatments, we are seeing fewer people hospitalized and dying from COVID than ever before in the pandemic. Nevertheless, our research indicates hypertension as an important risk factor for severe COVID, and shows that effective blood pressure control is critical to reducing this risk.
Unfortunately, the rate of blood pressure control in the UK and more broadly has worsened in the wake of the pandemic, as people are being screened and those with high blood pressure are identified in the first place. This is now a major public health problem and needs to be addressed urgently.
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