HEALTH NEWS
Under Pressure COVID associated with higher blood pressure levels.
The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t just been detrimental to respiratory health.
ranged from 1.10 to 2.50 mm Hg
According to new research published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circula-
higher for systolic blood pressure
tion, COVID has also been associated with higher blood pressure levels among middle-
(the top number in a blood
aged adults across the U.S.
pressure reading that indicates how much pressure the blood is exerting against the artery walls
Nearly half of American adults have
with each contraction) and 0.14 to
high blood pressure, a leading cause of
0.53 mm Hg for diastolic blood
heart disease, and nearly 75% of all cases
pressure (the bottom number in a
remain above the recommended blood
blood pressure reading indicates
pressure levels.
how much pressure the blood is
The shift to remote health care amid
exerting against the artery walls
the pandemic for numerous chronic
while the heart is resting, between
health conditions including high blood
contractions) compared to the same
pressure had a negative impact on healthy
time period in 2019. Before the
lifestyle behaviors for many people.
pandemic, blood pressure measures
“At the start of the pandemic, most
were largely unchanged when
people were not taking good care of them-
comparing study years.
selves. Increases in blood pressure were
ʯ Higher increases in blood pressure
likely related to changes in eating habits, in-
measures were seen among women
creased alcohol consumption, less physical activity, decreased medication adherence,
who had their blood pressure measured
for both systolic and diastolic blood
more emotional stress and poor sleep,”
during an employee health screening
pressure, among older participants
said lead study author Luke J. Laffin, M.D.,
every year from 2018 through 2020.
for systolic blood pressure, and in
co-director of the Center for Blood Pres-
The researchers compared monthly aver-
younger participants for diastolic
sure Disorders at the Cleveland Clinic in
age blood pressures between 2018 and
blood pressure.
Cleveland, Ohio. “And we know that even
2019 and blood pressure measures in
small rises in blood pressure increase one’s
January through March 2019 to January
risk of stroke and other adverse cardiovas-
through March 2020 (pre-pandemic).
compared to the pre-pandemic time
cular disease events.”
They then reviewed blood pressure
period, more participants (26.8%)
ʯ From April to December 2020,
Researchers accessed de-identified
changes comparing April to December
were re-categorized to a higher blood
health data from an employee wellness
2020 (during the pandemic) to April to
pressure category, while only 22% of
program (included employees and spous-
December 2019 (pre-pandemic).
participants moved to a lower blood pressure category.
es/partners) to assess changes in blood pressure levels before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data included
The analysis found:
ʯ During the pandemic (April to
Read more at: https://newsroom.heart.
nearly a half million adults across the U.S.,
December 2020), average increases
org/news/u-s-adults-blood-pressure-levels-
average age of 46 years, 54% women,
in blood pressure each month
increased-during-the-covid-19-pandemic.
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February 2022 | The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
