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Study Reveals a Correlation Between Covid-19 and Elevated Risk of High Blood Pressure

A recent study published in the medical journal Hypertension suggests a significant connection between Covid-19 and the increased risk of high blood pressure. The research, conducted in New York City between 2020 and 2022, examined over 45,000 Covid-19 patients and nearly 14,000 influenza patients who had no history of hypertension before their viral infections. The findings indicate that more than 1 in 5 patients hospitalized with Covid-19, and over 1 in 10 who were not hospitalized, were diagnosed with high blood pressure six months later. In comparison to patients with influenza, those hospitalized due to Covid-19 were more than twice as likely to develop hypertension.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, raises the risk of heart disease and stroke, leading causes of death in the United States. The study’s researchers noted that the incidence of hypertension in Covid-19 patients is concerning due to the widespread impact of the virus. Demographic factors, including age over 40, Black ethnicity, and pre-existing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), coronary artery disease, or chronic kidney disease, were associated with a higher risk of hypertension following Covid-19 infection.

The study proposed potential mechanisms behind this link, such as the coronavirus infecting heart cells and disrupting blood pressure regulation or acute kidney injury, a common Covid-19 complication, contributing to hypertension. Additionally, most participants in the study came from low socioeconomic communities, where factors like stress and limited access to healthy food could increase hypertension risk.

The researchers emphasized the importance of long-term follow-up research to understand the connection between Covid-19 and hypertension more comprehensively. They suggest that healthcare professionals should be aware of this association and screen at-risk patients for hypertension after Covid-19 illness, allowing for early identification and treatment to prevent complications related to heart and kidney diseases.