Key result
The COVID-19 lockdown was associated with a statistically significant but clinically irrelevant worsening of systolic blood pressure in women and sustained reductions in healthcare utilization among patients with hypertension.
Why the study?
To determine changes in clinical, pharmacological, and healthcare resource use parameters between the 6 months prior to lockdown and the 6 months following its end in patients with hypertension without COVID-19.
Does the COVID-19 lockdown worsen clinical parameters and healthcare resource utilization in patients with hypertension without COVID-19?
Observational (n=245,979)
Does the COVID-19 lockdown worsen clinical parameters and healthcare resource utilization in patients with hypertension without COVID-19?
Absolute Event Rate: 136.3% vs 135.7%
p-value: p=<0.001
The COVID-19 lockdown caused a statistically significant but clinically irrelevant worsening of blood pressure and renal function in patients with hypertension, alongside a decrease in healthcare resource utilization.
Minor BP rises and reduced care access observed post-lockdown in non-COVID hypertensives; leaves open whether effects warrant targeted recovery interventions.
Objectives: Determine the changes in clinical, pharmacological and healthcare resource use parameters, between the 6 months prior to the lockdown and the 6 months following its end, in a population with hypertension who did not have a diagnosis of COVID-19. Methods: Real world data observational study of 245,979 persons aged >16 years with hypertension in Aragon (Spain). Clinical (systolic-diastolic blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides and anthropometric measures); pharmacological (diuretics, calcium channel antagonists, and ACE inhibitors); and utilization of healthcare resources were considered. We performed the Student’s T-test for matched samples (quantitative) and the Chi-squared test (qualitative) to analyze differences between periods. Results: SBP, DBP, parameters of renal function and triglycerides displayed a significant, albeit clinically irrelevant, worsening in women. In men only DBP and eGFR showed a worsening, although to a lesser extent than in women. Certain antihypertensive drugs and health-resource utilization remained below pre-pandemic levels across the 6 months post-lockdown. Conclusion: Changes in lifestyles, along with difficulties in access to routine care has not substantially compromised the health and quality of life of patients with hypertension.
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Lear-Claveras et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Hypertension without COVID-19 (n=245,979). COVID-19 lockdown vs. 6 months prior to lockdown was evaluated on Change in systolic blood pressure in women (95% CI -0.69 to -0.37, p=<0.001). The COVID-19 lockdown was associated with a statistically significant but clinically irrelevant worsening of systolic blood pressure in women and sustained reductions in healthcare utilization among patients with hypertension.
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