Abstract 12432: Hypertension is Associated With Increased Hospitalization and Not Mortality Among COVID-19 Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension (HTN) is associated with cardiovascular mortality risk. The risk of mortality or hospitalization amongst COVID-19 patients with HTN remains unclear. Hypothesis: There is increased risk of hospitalization and mortality amongst COVID-19 patients with HTN. Methods: The electronic health database at Coney Island Hospital was queried retrospectively for a cohort of patients, 18 or older, between 3/1/2020 and 4/1/2020. We included SARS-CoV-2 positive patients divided into two groups, hypertensive and non-hypertensive. We examined baseline characteristics including comorbidities. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and hospitalization. The secondary outcomes were acute kidney injury, ventricular arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and intubation. We also examined the use of antihypertensives. Results: We identified 23,102 patients positive for SARS-CoV-2; 3,507 with HTN and 19,595 without. Patients in the HTN group had a higher incidence of underlying comorbidities (p<0.001). The mean age in years was 64.69 +- 16.2 (SEM 0.109) and 41.9+-15.3, (SEM 0.273) for HTN and non-HTN respectively (p<0.117). The unadjusted odds of death, OR 59.54 (46.51-76.22), p<0.001, and hospitalization, OR 41.781 (37.6-46.2), p<0.001, were significantly higher in the HTN group, however only hospitalization was significantly higher in the HTN group, OR 8.86 (7.61-10.32), p<0.001, when adjusted for comorbidities using multivariate logistic regression; mortality was not significant, OR 1.16 (0.83-1.62), p=0.391. For the secondary outcomes, hypertensive patients had significantly increased unadjusted odds of all outcomes (p<0.001). Discussion: In this cohort of patients, the unadjusted odds of death for COVID19 patients with HTN is significantly increased compared to non-hypertensive patients. Despite the increased age, using multivariate logistic regression, we found that HTN does not significantly increase mortality. Hospitalization remains significantly elevated with multivariate regression in hypertensive patients. Conclusions: This retrospective cohort study suggests that HTN alone does not increase the odds of death amongst COVID-19 patients, however hospitalization may be increased.