HYPERTENSION PHENOTYPES, TARGET ORGAN DAMAGE AND STIFF ARTERIES AND SEVERITY OF COVID-19

Objective: Since the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began, conflicting reports have emerged regarding its association with hypertension (HTN) in various populations worldwide. However, there is paucity of data regarding the association between the severity of COVID-19 and HTN phenotypes and HTN mediated organ damage (HMOD). Design and method: In a cohort of patients (n=501, mean age 53.5±14.6) attending a specialist hypertension clinic at King Abdulaziz Cardiac Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, we identified patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between January and November, 2020. We compared HTN phenotypes and HMOD in patients admitted with severe COVID-19 infection to those with mild disease and without disease. Data were analysed using JMP version 13 Pro(SAS for Windows). Results: Twenty-seven patients developed COVID-19 (5.38%), 8 of whom were admitted (29.6%), with one fatality (3.8%). Patients admitted with COVID-19 were more likely to have refractory HTN (43% vs. 15% vs. 8.9%, p 30 (85.7% vs. 46% vs. 47%, p