COVID-19 INFECTION AND ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION – A RECIPROCAL INTERACTION?

Abstract

Objective: High prevalence rates of hypertension were identified among severely ill patients with the infection. The interaction between the virus and the angiotensin - converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) explains its pathogenesis, in particular in the lung and vascular tissues. Nevertheless, the impact of hypertension in the outcome and severity of this infection is still unclear. Design and method: This retrospective work aimed to understand the relation between arterial hypertension and COVID-19. We analyzed a pool of 500 admissions in a medical ward specially dedicated to coronavirus infection between 24th October 2020 and 05th March 2021. Results: Our representative patient was an elderly male patient with arterial hypertension that had suffer from severe infection, with bilateral pneumonia and acute respiratory insufficiency. In almost a third of patients, there was a reduction or suspension of the anti-hypertensive medication at the time of discharge. Conclusions: In line with literature, arterial hypertension was highly prevalent in our COVID-19 patients. However, the infection could also have a role in this cardiovascular disease, lowering the arterial pressure even after the acute phase.