CONSEQUENCES OF DISCONTINUING ANTIHYPERTENSIVE TREATMENT DURING THE FIRST WAVE OF A COVID-19 PANDEMIC

ABSTRACT

Arterial hypertension (AH), especially insufficiently and inadequately treated, is a disease with serious morbidity-mortality consequences. AH was the most common comorbidity in patients with COVID-19 infection. During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Slovakia has low number of COVID 19 patients. However, worldwide was reported 2-fold higher mortality in COVID 19 positive patients with untreated AH compared to patients with treated AH. Many patients have discontinued antihypertensive treatment due to changes in access to healthcare as well as the dissemination of unverified information. The aim of our study was to evaluate the AH treatment in patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, to analyze the consequences of changes in AH treatment. It is a retrospective analysis of antihypertensive treatment of patients followed in the tertiary center. A total of 112 consecutive patients with AH who had a scheduled follow-up during the months of March-April 2020 were included. A telephone check-up was performed 6 months after the scheduled follow-up. These were patients with a mean age of 64 ± 18.1 years, 73 patients (65.2%) were male, and the mean number of antihypertensives per patient was 3.6 ± 2.2 drugs. Out of a total of 112 patients, 9 (8%) patients completely discontinued AH treatment, 15 (13.4%) patients discontinued ACEI / ARB without substitution, 5 (4.5%) patients discontinued ACEI / ARB with subsequent AH adjustment treatment. In the observed period March-April 2020, patients with newly diagnosed AH were absent. In our followed patient population (1.8%) were tested as COVID positive, 0 patients were hospitalized for COVID 19 infection. 4 (16,7%) patients overcame stroke, 1 (4.2%) patient overcame TIA, 1 (4.2%) was hospitalized for ACS, 2 (8.3%) for AF with rapid ventricular response, 2 (8.3%) for pulmonary edema, 2 (8.3%) patients died. In the group of patients who had adjusted treatment or did not discontinue AH treatment (a total of 88 patients) 1 (1.1%) patient overcame stroke, 1 (1.1%) was hospitalized for ACS, 1 (1.1%) for newly diagnosed AF, 1 (1.1%) patient died. Unjustified complete or partial discontinuation of antihypertensive treatment during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in complications of arterial hypertension. Achieving BP targets should also be crucial during the COVID 19 pandemic.