Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Hypertensive Patients Infected with COVID-19: A Retrospective Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Clinical Characteristics of the Study Patients with COVID-19

Characteristic	No. (%)			P value
	Total	Hypertension	Non-Hypertension
	944 (100)	311 (32.94)	633 (67.06)
Female sex - no. /total no. (%)	338 (35.81)	161 (32.26)	338 (67.74)	0.6377
Age, Median (IQR) - year	60 (50–69)	67 (58–74)	56 (46–65)	<0.0001
Fever on admission (IQR) - °C	36.7 (36.5–37.0)	36.7 (36.4–37.0)	36.7 (36.5–37.0)	0.8626
Highest temperature during hospitalization (IQR) - °C	37.2 (36.9–37.9)	37.2 (36.9–38.0)	37.2 (36.9–37.9)	0.2767
Systolic pressure on admission - mmHg	125 (110–135)	130 (120–144)	120 (110–131)	<0.0001
Diastolic pressure on admission - mmHg	80 (71–90)	82 (75–90)	80 (70–90)	<0.0001
Symptoms – no, %
Chill	75 (7.94)	26 (34.67)	49 (63.33)	0.7409
Cough	535 (56.67)	171 (31.96)	364 (68.04)	0.4627
Sputum production	202 (21.40)	66 (32.67)	136 (67.33)	0.9262
Hemoptysis	6 (0.64)	3 (50)	3 (50)	0.4018
Sore throat	29 (3.07)	9 (31.03)	20 (68.97)	0.8241
Dry throat	18 (2.54)	7 (38.89)	11 (61.11)	0.3985
Itchy throat	6 (0.82)	1 (16.67)	5 (83.33)	0.4774
Nasal congestion	9 (0.95)	2 (22.22)	7 (77.78)	0.4916
Headache	35 (3.71)	12 (34.29)	23 (65.71)	0.8634
Shortness of breath	272 (28.81)	99 (36.40)	173 (63.60)	0.1511
Dyspnea	32 (4.35)	9 (28.13)	23 (71.88)	0.8234
Conjunctival congestion	4 (0.42)	1 (25.00)	3 (75.00)	0.7248
Chest tightness	172 (23.37)	54 (31.40)	118 (68.60)	0.6226
Chest pain	22 (2.99)	7 (31.82)	15 (68.18)	0.8411
Palpitation	32 (4.35)	4 (12.50)	28 (87.50)	0.0280
Nausea or vomiting	41 (4.34)	12 (29.27)	29 (70.73)	0.6086
Diarrhea	69 (7.31)	27 (39.13)	42 (60.87)	0.2562
Myalgia or arthralgia	125 (13.24)	47 (37.60)	78 (62.40)	0.2345
Mental fatigue	414 (56.25)	124 (29.95)	290 (70.05)	0.9676
Loss of appetite	451 (61.28)	141 (31.26)	310 (68.74)	0.3062
Sleep disorder	435 (59.10)	135 (31.03)	300 (68.97)	0.4154
Fatigue	604 (63.98)	198 (32.78)	406 (67.22)	0.8868
Coexisting disorder - no. (%)
Type 2 diabetes	132 (13.98)	74 (56.06)	58 (43.94)	<0.0001
Coronary heart disease	70 (7.42)	46 (65.71)	24 (34.29)	<0.0001
Poststroke syndrome	32 (3.39)	22 (68.75)	10 (31.25)	<0.0001
Malignant tumor	26 (2.75)	5 (19.23)	21 (80.77)	0.1304
Chronic kidney disease	9 (0.95)	7 (77.78)	2 (22.22)	0.007
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	13 (1.38)	4 (30.77)	9 (69.23)	0.8665
Asthma	6 (0.82)	3 (50)	3 (50)	0.28
Heart faliure	6 (0.82)	3 (50)	3 (50)	0.28
Arrhythmia	18 (2.54)	9 (50)	9 (50)	0.06
Bronchiectasis	2 (0.27)	1 (50)	1 (50)	0.5088
Hepatitis B infection*	23 (2.44)	3 (13.04)	20 (86.96)	0.0431

Notes: *The presence of hepatitis B infection was defined as a positive result upon testing for the hepatitis B surface antigen, with or without elevated levels of alanine or aspartate aminotransferase. Arrhythmias refers to atrial fibrillation, frequent ventricular premature beats, and nodal tachycardia.

Table 2 Radiographic Examination Results

Variable- No./Total No. (%)	Total	Hypertension	Non-Hypertension	P value
	944 (100)	311 (32.94)	633 (67.06)
Abnormalities on chest CT
Ground-glass opacity	572 (64.41)	195 (34.09)	377 (65.91)	0.3026
Local patchy shadowing	76 (8.56)	25 (32.89)	51 (67.11)	0.9982
Bilateral patchy shadowing	521 (58.67)	183 (35.12)	338 (64.88)	0.0902
Pleural effusion	53 (5.97)	30 (56.60)	23 (43.40)	0.0002

Table 3 Laboratory Findings

Variable- No./Total No. (%)	No. (%)			P value
	Total	Hypertension	Non-Hypertension
	944 (100)	311 (32.94)	633 (67.06)
Blood glucose and lipids
Random blood glucose - mmol/L	5.53 (4.88–6.94)	5.80 (5.05–7.50)	5.39 (4.81–6.60)	0.0066
HbAlc - %	2 (2–5.2)	2 (2–3)	2 (2–5.3)	0.4810
TC - mmol/L	4.22 (3.64–4.81)	4.19 (3.64–4.73)	4.23 (3.66–4.67)	0.7850
TG - mmol/L	1.30 (0.94–1.72)	1.33 (0.95–1.81)	1.27 (0.93–1.70)	0.3223
LDL-C - mmol/L	1.79 (1.46–2.17)	1.77 (1.50–2.18)	1.80 (1.42–2.17)	0.8271
HDL-C - mmol/L	1.10 (0.93–1.30)	1.12 (0.89–0.23)	1.10 (0.95–1.30)	0.3518
Hematologic
White cell count - g/L	5.61 (4.47–7.09)	5.97 (4.74–7.67)	5.48 (4.3–6.82)	0.0008
Lymphocyte count - g/L	1.32 (0.88–1.77)	1.28 (0.83–1.72)	1.36 (0.91–1.82)	0.2339
Platelet count - g/L	220 (169–277)	221(164–288)	218.5 (171–272)	0.2809
Hemoglobin - g/L	127 (116–137)	125.6 (114.5–136)	127 (116–138)	0.0316
Inflammatory
ESR - mm/h	25 (13.5–48.1)	28 (17.1–55.6)	21.8 (11.5–44.1)	0.0083
TNF - fmol/mL	9.3 (6.8–12.7)	9.9 (7.03–14.2)	9.3 (6.49–12.1)	0.7094
IL-1β- pg/mL	5 (5–5.8)	5 (5–5.8)	5 (5–5.72)	0.3926
IL-10 - pg/mL	5 (5–7.2)	5 (5–7.8)	5 (5–6.6)	0.1855
IL-6 - pg/mL	5.3 (2.6–16.1)	6.02 (3.02–18.2)	4.95 (2.49–14.8)	0.2482
PCT - ng/mL	0.03 (0.02–0.07)	0.04 (0.02–0.08)	0.03 (0.02–0.06)	0.5126
CRP - mg/L	5.85 (3.11–37.1)	17.92 (3.11–46.6)	3.15 (3.11–23.4)	0.0131
Immune
IgA - g/L	2.19 (1.84–2.7)	2.22 (1.85–2.79)	2.18 (1.84–2.61)	0.1964
IgM - g/L	0.99 (0.79–1.28)	0.89 (0.68–1.15)	1.03 (0.85–1.34)	<0.0001
IgG - g/L	11.7 (10.3–13.3)	11.9 (10.8–13.2)	11.7 (10.2–13.4)	0.4699
IgE - g/L	40.6 (18.3–115.0)	50.15 (18.50–142.5)	38.7 (18.3–95.8)	0.0363
C3 - g/L	1.18 (1.03–1.33)	1.22 (1.11–1.37)	1.16 (0.98–1.29)	0.5755
C4 - g/L	0.26 (0.21–0.33)	0.27 (0.24–0.34)	0.25 (0.20–0.32)	0.0196
Total T lymphocytes - %	68.1 (59.79–74.2)	66.43 (57.09–73.05)	69.14 (61.04–74.65)	0.0633
Total T lymphocytes count	618 (372–821)	546 (282–787)	662.5 (421–838)	0.0364
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes - %	23.30 (17.2–29.8)	20.66 (15.86–28.16)	24.32 (18.36–30.33)	0.0580
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes count	205 (118–299)	170 (100–266)	211.5 (134–313)	0.1275
Helper T cells - %	40.76 (33.52–48.18)	41.54 (32.94–48.82)	40.04 (34.03–47.91)	0.6426
Helper T cells count	364 (225–512)	345.5 (167–508)	372 (241–514)	0.2946
B lymphocytes - %	13.68 (9.88–19.22)	13.50 (9.40–19.32)	13.7 (10.08–19.04)	0.8565
B lymphocytes count	112 (77–172.5)	103 (64.5–151.5)	116 (83.5–183.5)	0.0445
K cells - %	13.85 (8.88–20.34)	15.66 (9.94–22.75)	13.26 (8.50–19.44)	0.0120
K cells count	112 (65.5–181.5)	116 (65.5–187.5)	110.5 (65.5–178)	0.5853
Lymphocytes count	908 (609–1167)	851 (530–1122)	951 (678–1199)	0.1020
Helper/Cytotoxic T lymphocytes ratio	1.78 (1.26–2.54)	2.10 (1.38–2.66)	1.64 (1.19–2.32)	0.2465
Coagulation
Fibrinogen - g/L	2.91 (2.32–3.88)	3.03 (2.44–3.97)	2.84 (2.25–3.83)	0.0116
PT - s	12.1 (11.3–13.1)	12.1 (11.2–13.1)	12.1 (11.3–13.1)	0.4645
INR	1.01 (0.94–1.10)	1.01 (0.94–1.09)	1.01 (0.95–1.10)	0.3082
PAP	99 (94–104)	99 (94–104)	99 (94–103.8)	0.1569
APTT - s	30.00 (27.7–32.2)	29.45 (27.3–32.2)	30.1 (27.9–32.2)	0.5937
TT - s	15.75 (14.85–17.01)	15.8 (14.9–17.1)	15.7 (14.8–17.0)	0.3625
D-dimer - mg/L	0.48 (0.32–0.97)	0.59 (0.38–1.30)	0.43 (0.29–0.89)	0.3873
Biochemical
BNP - pg/mL	26 (10–64)	37.5 (13–91)	23 (10–50.5)	0.0042
ALT - IU/L	20 (11–35)	20 (12–35)	20 (11–35.5)	0.4357
AST - IU/L	22 (16–32)	23 (16–35)	21 (16–31)	0.3370
TP- g/L	63.6 (59.5–67.5)	63.75 (60.1–67.9)	63.45 (59.3–67.1)	0.3625
ALB- g/L	37.85 (34.3–41.2)	37.4 (34.0–40.3)	38.1 (34.5–41.4)	0.1262
PA- g/L	153.7 (106.2–211.5)	154.7 (103.1–219.2)	153.6 (107.7–206.5)	0.5847
GLB- g/L	25.8 (22.4–29.01)	26.1 (23.3–29.5)	25.5 (22.01–28.8)	0.6356
Cys-C - mg/L	0.79 (0.66–0.98)	0.90 (0.74–1.16)	0.75 (0.64–0.89)	<0.0001
TBIL - μmol/L	11 (8.2–14.6)	11.5 (8.4–15.8)	10.9 (8.2–14.1)	0.0578
CRE - μmol/L	66.3 (56.8–81.3)	72.75 (60.4–86.4)	64 (55.2–78.2)	<0.0001
BUN- mmol/L	4.76 (3.76–6.01)	5.16 (4.08–6.65)	4.53 (3.67–5.72)	0.0741
UA- mmol/L	269.7 (219.7–340.1)	290.3 (237.4–365.8)	260.5 (213.5–321.7)	<0.0001
Creatinine -μmol/L	63 (39–104.5)	64 (42–105)	62 (38–103)	0.9357
LDH - U/L	210 (170.5–278.0)	219 (180–298)	204 (168–266)	0.3137
SAA- mg/L	22.18 (6.02–254.04)	99.28 (8.85–300)	15.97 (5.97–236.1)	0.0050
Blood Gas Analysis
PH	7.45 (7.42–7.48)	7.45 (7.42–7.48)	7.45 (7.42–7.48)	0.5964
PCO2 - mmHg	36 (33–41)	35 (33–41)	37 (32.5–41)	0.6320
PO2 - mmHg	94 (69–123)	85 (70–113)	98.5 (68.5–134)	0.0264
Minerals
Sodium - mmol/L	139.7 (137.4–141.3)	139.5 (137–141.3)	139.8 (137.5–141.3)	0.2377
Potassium - mmol/L	3.82 (3.51–4.21)	3.77 (3.42–4.21)	3.85 (3.55–4.20)	0.1796
Chloride - mmol/L	106 (103.6–107.7)	105.7 (102.8–107.4)	106.0 (103.7–107.8)	0.0488

Abbreviations: HbA1c, glycosylated hemoglobin A1; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglyceride; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP, C-reactive protein; PCT, procalcitonin; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; IL, interleukin; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; PT, prothrombin time; INR, international normalized ratio; APTT, activated partial thromboplastin time; PAP, prothrombin activation percentage; TT, thrombin time; LDH, lactic dehydrogenase; Ig, immunoglobulin; C3, complement 3; C4, complement 4; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; SAA, serum amyloid A; PH, pondus hydrogenii.

Table 4 Complications, Treatments, and Clinical Outcomes

Variable	No. (%)			P value
	Total	Hypertension	Non-Hypertension
	944 (100)	311 (32.94)	633(67.06)
Complications
Septic shock - no. (%)	10 (1.07)	2 (20.00)	8 (80.00)	0.3922
Heart failure - no. (%)	14 (1.50)	8 (57.14)	6 (42.86)	0.0799
Acute respiratory distress syndrome - no. (%)	48 (5.15)	15 (31.25)	33 (68.75)	0.8356
Acute kidney injury - no. (%)	10 (1.07)	5 (50)	5 (50)	0.2385
Disseminated intravascular coagulation - no. (%)	2 (0.21)	1 (50)	1 (50)	0.5467
Rhabdomyolysis - no. (%)	1 (0.11)	0 (0.00)	1 (100.00)	1.0000
Treatments
Anti-hypertensive medication - no. (%)	264 (35.87)	164 (62.12)	100 (37.88)	<0.0001
Antidiabetic medication - no. (%)	50 (6.79)	22 (44.00)	28 (56.00)	0.0362
Lipid-lowering medication - no. (%)	65 (8.83)	40 (61.54)	25 (38.46)	<0.0001
Intravenous antibiotics - no. (%)	567 (61.50)	192 (33.86)	375 (66.14)	0.2780
Antifungal medication - no. (%)	13 (1.44)	6 (46.15)	7 (53.85)	0.2747
Antiviral medication - no. (%)	714 (76.77)	243 (34.03)	471 (65.97)	0.0561
Systemic glucocorticoids - no. (%)	284 (31.31)	98 (34.51)	186 (65.49)	0.2912
Oxygen therapy- no. (%)	798 (85.62)	267 (33.46)	531 (66.54)	0.1816
Invasive mechanical ventilation - no. (%)	14 (1.52)	6 (42.86)	8 (57.14)	0.3940
Noninvasive mechanical ventilation - no. (%)	66 (7.16)	28 (42.42)	38 (57.58)	0.0754
Intravenous immunoglobulin- no. (%)	227 (24.57)	78 (34.36)	149 (65.64)	0.4336
Traditional Chinese Medicine - no. (%)	781 (83.93)	245 (31.37)	536 (68.63)	0.1052
Chinese Patent Medicine - no. (%)	651 (69.92)	214 (32.87)	437 (67.13)	0.7029
Acupuncture or ear acupoint - no. (%)	154 (16.68)	59 (38.31)	95 (61.69)	0.0856
Clinical outcomes at data cutoff
Admission to intensive care unit - no. (%)	86 (9.12)	32 (37.21)	54 (62.79)	0.3815
Discharge from hospital	904 (95.76)	294 (32.52)	610 (67.48)	0.1889
Median length of hospital stay (IQR) - days	13 (9–20)	14 (9–21)	13 (8–19)	0.0216