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Review
. 2024 Feb 2;25(3):1837.
doi: 10.3390/ijms25031837.

Elevated Arterial Blood Pressure as a Delayed Complication Following COVID-19-A Narrative Review

Emilia Bielecka  1 , Piotr Sielatycki  1 , Paulina Pietraszko  1 , Agnieszka Zapora-Kurel  1 , Edyta Zbroch  1
Affiliations
Review

Elevated Arterial Blood Pressure as a Delayed Complication Following COVID-19-A Narrative Review

Emilia Bielecka et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Arterial hypertension is one of the most common and significant cardiovascular risk factors. There are many well-known and identified risk factors for its development. In recent times, there has been growing concern about the potential impact of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular system and its relation to arterial hypertension. Various theories have been developed that suggest a connection between COVID-19 and elevated blood pressure. However, the precise link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the long-term risk of developing hypertension remains insufficiently explored. Therefore, the primary objective of our study was to investigate the influence of COVID-19 infection on blood pressure elevation and the subsequent risk of developing arterial hypertension over an extended period. To accomplish this, we conducted a thorough search review of relevant papers in the PubMed and SCOPUS databases up to 3 September 2023. Our analysis encompassed a total of 30 eligible articles. Out of the 30 papers we reviewed, 19 of them provided substantial evidence showing a heightened risk of developing arterial hypertension following COVID-19 infection. Eight of the studies showed that blood pressure values increased after the infection, while three of the qualified studies did not report any notable impact of COVID-19 on blood pressure levels. The precise mechanism behind the development of hypertension after COVID-19 remains unclear, but it is suggested that endothelial injury and dysfunction of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system may be contributory. Additionally, changes in blood pressure following COVID-19 infection could be linked to lifestyle alterations that often occur alongside the illness. Our findings emphasize the pressing requirement for thorough research into the relationship between COVID-19 and hypertension. These insights are essential for the development of effective prevention and management approaches for individuals who have experienced COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; blood pressure; endothelial dysfunction; hypertension; long covid; post covid.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Possible impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the development of arterial hypertension. RAAS: renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system; HTN: arterial hypertension.
Figure 2
Figure 2
PRISMA flow diagram of the systematic review process performed in this study.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Angiotensinogen metabolism under the influence of ACE and ACE-2 together with the effects of end products. ACE-2: angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2; AT-I: angiotensin I; AT-II: angiotensin II; RAt-1 receptor: angiotensin Ⅱ receptor type 1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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