US adults’ blood pressure levels increased du

Embargoed until Monday, December 6, 2021, 4:00 a.m. CT / 5:00 a.m. ET

DALLAS, December 6, 2021 – The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to higher blood pressure levels in middle-aged adults in the United States, according to a new study published today on the American Heart Association’s flagship traffic.

According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, a leading cause of heart disease, and nearly 75% of all cases stay above recommended blood pressure levels. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, stay-at-home orders were placed in the U.S. between March and April 2020. This has resulted in a shift to remote medical care for many chronic conditions, including high blood pressure, and has adversely affected healthy lifestyles for many people.

“At the beginning of the pandemic, most people did not take good care of themselves. The rise in blood pressure was likely related to changes in eating habits, increased alcohol consumption, less physical activity, decreased drug use, increased emotional stress, and poor sleep, ”said lead study author Luke J. Laffin, MD, co-director of the Center for Blood Pressure Disorders at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. “And we know that even a small increase in blood pressure increases the risk of stroke and other undesirable cardiovascular diseases.”

For this analysis, researchers accessed anonymized health data from an employee wellness program (including employee and spouse / partner) to assess changes in blood pressure before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data included nearly half a million adults in the United States, mean age 46, 54% women, whose blood pressure was measured as part of an employee health exam every year from 2018 to 2020. Participants were divided into four groups: normal, elevated, level 1 hypertension, and level 2 hypertension based on the current blood pressure guidelines of the American Heart Association.

The researchers compared the monthly average blood pressure readings between 2018 and 2019 and the blood pressure readings from January to March 2019 with January to March 2020 (pre-pandemic). They then checked the blood pressure changes in comparison from April to December 2020 (during the pandemic) to April to December 2019 (before the pandemic).

The analysis showed:

  • During the pandemic (April to December 2020), the average rise in blood pressure each month was between 1.10 and 2.50 mm Hg higher for systolic blood pressure (the highest number on a blood pressure reading that shows how much pressure the blood is under Artery exerts on each contraction) and 0.14-0.53 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure (the lower number on a blood pressure reading indicates how much pressure the blood exerts on the artery walls between contractions while the heart is at rest) at the same time period in 2019. Before the pandemic, blood pressure readings were largely unchanged compared to the study years.
  • Higher increases in blood pressure values ​​were observed in women for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, in older participants for systolic blood pressure, and in younger participants for diastolic blood pressure.
  • From April to December 2020, compared to the pre-pandemic period, more participants (26.8%) were rebooked into a higher blood pressure category, while only 22% of participants were rebooked into a lower blood pressure category.

“From a public health perspective, it is important to get vaccinated and wear a mask during a pandemic. However, the results of our research reinforce the need to consider chronic health conditions such as worsening blood pressure, ”Laffin said. “Even in the midst of the pandemic, it is important to watch your blood pressure and your chronic illnesses. Exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. See your doctor regularly to learn how to manage your cardiovascular risk factors. “

The study authors are tracking these results to see if this trend will continue into 2021, which could indicate an impending wave of strokes and heart attacks.

“Unfortunately, this investigation confirms what is being observed across the country – the COVID-19 pandemic has had and will have far-reaching health effects across the country, particularly those related to uncontrolled high blood pressure,” said Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH, FAAFP, FAHA, American Heart Association’s chief medical officer for prevention. “These results confirm why the American Heart Association’s National Hypertension Control Initiative (NHCI) is critical. With a particular focus on historically underserved communities in the United States, the comprehensive program supports community health teams with regular blood pressure management training, technical assistance, and resources, including proper blood pressure measurement technology, self-measured blood pressure monitoring and management, medication compliance, and healthy lifestyle services . “

The main limitation of the study is that the main cause of high blood pressure is not clear. In addition, the results of the study may not be representative of adults who do not participate in an employee wellness program.

Co-authors are Harvey W. Kaufman, MD, MBA; Zhen Chen, MS; Justin K. Niles, MA; Andre R. Arellano, BS; Lance A. Bare, Ph.D .; and Stanley L. Hazen, MD, Ph.D.

The study did not identify any sources of funding.

Statements and conclusions from studies published in the American Heart Association’s scientific journals are those of the study authors only and do not necessarily reflect the association’s policies or positions. The association does not give any assurances or guarantees for their correctness or reliability. The association is mainly financed by private individuals; Foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers, and other companies) also donate and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict guidelines to prevent these relationships from affecting the scientific content. Here you will find sales from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance companies as well as the association’s overall financial information.

Additional resources:

Via the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force behind living longer, healthier lives. We are committed to fair health in all communities. Working with numerous organizations and supported by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate public health, and share life-saving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a premier source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter, or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

###

Article heading

Rise in adult blood pressure observed in US during COVID-19 pandemic

Publication date of the article

6-December-2021

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of press releases sent to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of information via the EurekAlert system.

[ad_1]
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/936757