Covid-19 patients with hypertension shall take regular blood pressure medicines, warns IKDRC

Ahmedabad: Patients with hypertension shall take regular medicine to maintain blood pressure as they are more likely to succumb to Covid-19 infection, the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC) warned in a statement on the occasion of World Hypertension Day on Friday.

“There is much clarity about intake of blood pressure medicines now, consisting of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). It is safe to continue with blood pressure medicines regardless of Covid-19 infection,” Dr Vineet Mishra, Director IKDRC-ITS said in a statement.

Dr Mishra, however, added that hypertension patients shall avoid frequent visits to their physician for follow up checkups and instead monitor BP at home to evade picking infection. Almost 80 percent of adults fall under essential hypertension which is an age-related condition while others reach secondary stage hypertension due to lifestyle choices. “Since Covid-19 largely impacts people of advance age, such patients shall monitor their high blood pressure,” said Dr Mishra adding that in no circumstances early warnings shall be ignored due to high BP.

Elevated blood pressure increases risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke which generally develops over a period of time affecting everyone. “Though there is no indicative data about India, trends emerged from China and Italy exhibit higher risk of covid-19 infections and problems in people with hypertension,” explained Dr Mishra.

In China, up to 50% of Covid-19 patients had hypertension. In Italy, 76% of people who died had high blood pressure with underlying condition of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory problems. It has been observed that patients with underlying health conditions and aging weakens immune system to fight off Covid-19.

‘Measure your blood pressure, control it, live longer’ is the theme for this year’s World Hypertension Day which is celebrated every year on May 17, to increase awareness about elevated blood pressure worldwide.