Hypertension artérielle et COVID-19

Age and cardiovascular comorbidities, but not hypertension, are independent risk factors of mortality and hospitalization in intensive care units in coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) patients. The high prevalence of hypertension in elder people, coronary heart diseases, and heart failure may explain the high prevalence of hypertension among patients hospitalized for severe forms of COVID-19. Hypertension, as the main risk factor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, contributes to underlying cardiovascular comorbidities associated with severe presentations of COVID-19. The over-expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in patients taking angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) that favor severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) entrance in host cells, remains hypothetical to explain SARS-CoV-2 pathogenic development, and shouldn’t call for ARB and ACEi discontinuation. Patients with hypertension or cardiovascular diseases should be particularly followed-up because of their predisposition to severe forms of COVID-19, acute major cardiovascular events, and decompensation of chronic cardiovascular conditions. The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection should not turn health caregivers and patients away from cardiovascular emergencies, even during epidemic periods.