Nowadays, Thailand and other countries are encountering with COVID-19 outbreak. A state of emergency and curfew were declared During the pandemic. The public health system during the outbreak adapted the way of healthcare work, for example, postponing the follow-up, limiting the patient at OPD, and sending medicine to the patient’s address. On the other hand, the preventive measure of the outbreak promotes unhealthy lifestyles such as inappropriate eating behavior and diminished exercise.
We aimed to determine the cumulative incidence and risk factors of uncontrolled hypertension among hypertensive patients and the association between the outcome and admission in Phatthananikhom hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers collected demographic data, personal history, and diagnosis from the online medical record of Phatthananikhom hospital. Hypertensive patients with controlled hypertension three months before the outbreak were selected for the study. The criteria for uncontrolled hypertension are defined when most SBP measurements are≥140 and/or DBP ≥90. A retrospective cohort study was conducted until the end of the study period (3 April 2020 – 22 March 2021) to determine uncontrolled hypertension incidence and risk factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The cumulative incidence of uncontrolled hypertension among hypertensive patients is 34.3%. The final model was adjusted for age, sex, DM comorbidity, smoking status, and BMI. After adjusting, the factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension during covid-19 were a BMI of more than 35 kg/m2, current smoker, and DM comorbidity. We found that uncontrolled hypertension was associated with admission during the study period. In conclusion, during the Covid-19 pandemic, All the public health measurements and hospital restrictions might affect the natural course of hypertension—especially in hypertensive patients with DM comorbidity, current smoker, and obesity. Therefore, planning of management of blood pressure control has to be established to reduce the incidence of uncontrolled hypertension and prevent further complications of hypertension.
