[Influence of arterial hypertension on the clinical profile and prognosis of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in the city of Bukavu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo : Prospective cohort study].

Problem: There are no studies on the association between high blood pressure and COVID-19 in South Kivu.

Objective: to determine the influence of arterial hypertension on the clinical characteristics and prognosis of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the city of Bukavu.

Methodology: Between June 2020 and June 2022, an open cohort of hypertensive and non-hypertensive COVID-19 patients admitted to two clinics in the city of Bukavu was formed. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of death. Thus, a prospective modeling of mortality by the Kaplan-Meier estimator was carried out.

Results: Among the 178 admissions for COVID-19, 68 (38.2%) patients were hypertensive. Compared to non-hypertensives, hypertensive patients were significantly older [61.0 (56.0-71.0) vs. 48.0 (32.7-64.0); p < 0,0001). During the observation period of 1059 patient-days, the incidence of death (3.2/100 patient-days) was non-significantly higher in hypertensive patients (4.3/100 patient-days) (p = 0.06). On the other hand, the independent predictors of death were Sepsis [adjusted HR = 3.7 (1.5-8.7)], CRP > 100 mg/L [adjusted HR = 3.0 (1.2-7, 0)] and SaO < 90 % [adjusted HR = 3.9 (1.3-11.8)].

Conclusion: This study shows that hypertension was very common in patients admitted for COVID-19 in the city of Bukavu but did not influence the vital prognosis of the latter, thus confirming the finds of most authors who have addressed the question.