Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with hypertension

Buenos Aires, Argentina November 19, 2020: The blockade by the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with increased hypertension in patients admitted to emergencies. This is the result of a study presented at the 46th Argentine Heart Association (SAC).

SAC 2020 is a virtual conference from November 19th to 21st. Faculty members of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) will participate in a joint science session with the Argentine Cardiology Society as part of the ESC Global Activities Program.

“Admission to the emergency department during a period of compulsory social isolation was associated with a 37% increase in the probability of hypertension, even after considering age, gender, month, date and time, and with or without consultation. The patient arrived by ambulance. “

The forced social isolation by COVID-19 took place on March 20 in Argentina as part of a general blockade. With the exception of essential workers (eg doctors and nurses), people were told to stay home. The general public was allowed to leave the house just to buy food, medicine and cleaning supplies. Schools and universities were closed and public events were suspended.

“We have observed that more patients in emergencies have high blood pressure after social isolation has begun,” Dr. Fosco said. “We conducted this survey to confirm or reject this impression.”

This study was conducted in the emergency department of the Fabalolo Foundation University Hospital. The frequency of hypertension 1 in patients aged 21 years and older during 3 months of social isolation (March 20, 2020 to June 25, 2020), the same 3 months of 2019 (2019) From March 21st to June 27th) and the three months immediately before social isolation (December 13th, 2019 to March 19th, 2020).

Blood pressure is the standard measurement on admission to the emergency department and included in the study almost all patients (98.2%) admitted between March 21, 2019 and June 25, 2020. I did. The most common reasons for hospitalization were chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal pain, fever, cough, and high blood pressure.

This study included 12,241 patients. The average age was 57 years and 45.6% were women. During the three-month quarantine period, 1,643 patients were admitted to the emergency department. This was 56.9% less than in the same three months of 2019 (3,810 patients) and 53.9% lower than the three months immediately prior to social isolation (3,563 patients).

During the period of social isolation, 391 patients (23.8%) who were hospitalized in an emergency had hypertension. This percentage was significantly higher than 17.5% for the same period in 2019 and 15.4% three months before social isolation (p).

Dr. Fosco said: “There are several possible reasons for the relationship between social isolation and hypertension. For example, increased stress due to a pandemic, restricted personal contact, onset or worsening of financial or family difficulties. Behavioral changes It played a role in higher intakes of food and alcohol, a sedentary lifestyle and weight gain. “

Dr. Fosco said the reasons for hospitalization were similar during the period studied and were not the cause of the increase in hypertension. However, “patients may have felt more psychological tension while traveling to the hospital due to travel restrictions, police controls, and fear of coronavirus infection after leaving home. In addition, treatment of hypertension. Patients receiving the drug may have stopped taking their drug (later rejected) with a preliminary warning about possible adverse effects on the outcome of COVID-19. “

He concluded that: “Because blood pressure control helps prevent COVID-19 heart attacks, strokes and serious illnesses, it is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle even in social isolation and blockages. Many pandemic-related regulations Is alleviated and we investigate whether this is reflected in the blood pressure of emergency hospitalized patients. “

Dr. Héctor Deschle, Chairman of the Science Program at SAC 2020, said: The trauma that the author points out is what we perceive in daily consultation and is manifested as fear, despair, irritation, and difficulty concentrating. This affects interpersonal relationships and physical health. This study was an outbreak and the limitations used to combat it. “

Professor Jose Luis Zamorano, ESC Argentina Ambassador to Argentina at SAC2020, said: Patients in a pandemic will have more adverse consequences in the future. “

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References and notes

1 Hypertension was defined as systole> 160 mmHg and / or diastole> 100 mmHg. This corresponds to grade 2 (moderate) or 3 (severe) hypertension, according to the guidelines of the Argentine Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology.

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