Abstract 11775: Association of Hypertension With Mortality in Patients Hospitalised With COVID-19

Introduction: To assess whether hypertension is an independent risk factor for mortality amongst patients hospitalised with COVID-19 and to evaluate the impact of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) on mortality in patients with a background of hypertension. Methods: This observational cohort study included all consecutive index hospitalisations with laboratory proven COVID-19 aged 18 years or older across 21 Australian hospitals entered in the AUS-COVID Registry by 22nd January 2021. Patients were excluded if their past medical or medication history was not available or if they were transferred to another hospital in which case mortality outcomes were not available. Registry data were analysed for in-hospital mortality in patients with comorbidities including hypertension, and baseline treatment with ACE inhibitors or ARBs. Results: 546 consecutive patients (62.9±19.8 years old, 51.8% male) hospitalised with COVID-19 were enrolled. In the multivariable model, significant predictors of mortality were age (aOR 1.09, 95% CI 1.07-1.12, p Conclusions: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, pre-existing hypertension was the most prevalent comorbidity but was not independently associated with mortality. Similarly, the baseline use of ACE inhibitors or ARBs had no independent association with in-hospital mortality.