COVID-19 INDUCES GREATER DIFFICULTY IN BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL DUE TO INCREASED ARTERIAL STIFFNESS

Objective: COVID-19 induces widespread endotheliitis, with long-term effects on the vascular system and arterial hypertension still under investigation. The aim of this study is to verify the possible correlation between COVID-19 and blood pressure control. Design and method: We enrolled, in a multicenter study, 185 hypertensive patients with a positive nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 in the 6 months prior to the follow-up visit (Group 1, 90F, age 63.38±10.29 years) and 97 hypertensive patients consistently negative for SARS-CoV-2 (Group 2, 49F, age 64.20±10.79 years), comparable in terms of age, sex, weight, and BMI. We evaluated the follow-up visit (T1) and the one prior to the infection, within 12 months of the follow-up (T0). Results: At T0, Group 2 had a higher percentage of patients with dyslipidemia and a significantly lower percentage of patients with hypertensive cardiomyopathy (HTN-CM) compared to Group 1. In Group 1, we observed a significant decrease in the number of smokers and an increase in the diagnosis of HTN-CM at T1, with a significant increase in systolic values (134.30±14.93 mmHg vs 132.40±16.19 mmHg, p<0.05) and a decrease in diastolic values (78.30±8.77 mmHg vs 79.63±8.41 mmHg, p<0.05) compared to T0. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the number of antihypertensive drugs taken at T1 in Group 1, particularly angiotensin receptor blockers, compared to T0. Finally, at T1 in Group 1, we observed a significant increase in pulse wave velocity (PWV) compared to T0. These findings were not evident in Group 2. Conclusions: In patients who contracted COVID-19, there is increased vascular stiffness resulting in higher blood pressure values and the need for a greater number of medications for blood pressure control.