Epidemiological Features and Predictors of Mortality in Patients with COVID-19 with and without Underlying Hypertension

Moftakhar, Leila; Piraee, Elahe; Mohammadi Abnavi, Mohammad; Moftakhar, Parisa; Azarbakhsh, Habibollah; Valipour, Aliasghar

BACKGROUNDS: Individuals with hypertension are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection and related mortality. This study was carried out to assess the epidemiological features and predictors of mortality in patients with COVID-19 with hypertension. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the epidemiological characteristics of two groups of patients with COVID-19 with hypertension (1927) and without hypertension (39030) were compared. Chi-square test was applied to evaluate the differences between qualitative variables in two study groups. Logistic regression was also used to determine predictors of mortality in patients with COVID-19 and in patients with COVID-19 with hypertension. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension in patients with COVID-19 was 4.7%, and 24.37% of COVID-19 related deaths occurred in these individuals. The average age of hypertension and nonhypertension patients was 61 and 37 years, respectively. Fever, cough, headache, anorexia, fatigue, and comorbid diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, chronic lung and kidney disease, diabetes, immunodeficiency disease, and thyroid disease, were significantly more frequent in people with hypertension than those without hypertension. The chances of mortality in patient with COVID-19 were 1.8 times higher in individuals with dyspnea, 1.25 in individuals with fever, 1.33 in individuals with cough, 3.6 in patients with hypertension, 2.21 in diabetics, and 2.2 in individuals with cardiovascular disease. Also, individuals with COVID-19 with hypertension that had dyspnea, immunodeficiency, and cardiovascular disease were at higher risk of mortality. CONCLUSION: Hypertension is a serious threat to patients with COVID-19. Therefore, in order to control these patients more precisely and reduce mortality in them, it is extremely important to develop prevention and treatment strategies.