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COVID-19

COVID-19 Exacerbates Hypertension-Related Cardiovascular and Renal Diseases

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

According to new research from the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly contributed to the exacerbation of hypertension-related cardiovascular and renal diseases. The study analyzed data from over 1.2 million adults in the United States, focusing on the medical costs, healthcare utilization, and productivity losses associated with hypertension, particularly in the context of COVID-19 diagnosis.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that 21% of the analyzed adults had hypertension, with those with hypertension being older, less likely female, less likely urban residents, and having more comorbidities.
  • Excess medical costs associated with hypertension were $8,572 per patient over a 2-year period (95% CI $8,182-$8,962).
  • Patients with hypertension had 0.200 (95% CI, 0.195-0.205) more emergency department visits, 0.081 (95% CI, 0.077-0.085) more inpatient admissions, 5.984 (95% CI, 5.892-6.075) more outpatient visits, and 20.25 (95% CI, 20.09-20.41) more prescriptions per patient over the 2-year period.
  • Individuals with hypertension and COVID-19 diagnosis had $3,495 (95% CI, $2,135-$4,856) higher medical costs and 2.588 (95% CI, 1.112-4.065) more short-term disability days per patient over the 2-year period.
  • Hypertension was associated with higher medical costs, healthcare utilization, and productivity losses, exacerbated by COVID-19.

Statistics:

  • 21% of the analyzed adults had hypertension.
  • $8,572 was the excess medical costs associated with hypertension per patient over a 2-year period.
  • Individuals with hypertension had 0.200 more emergency department visits per patient over a 2-year period.
  • Patients with hypertension had 5.984 more outpatient visits per patient over a 2-year period.
  • $3,495 was the higher medical costs associated with hypertension and COVID-19 diagnosis per patient over a 2-year period.

Sources:

  • "Medical Costs, Health Care Utilization, and Productivity Losses Associated With Hypertension Moderated By Covid-19 Diagnosis Among Us Commercial Enrollees" (American Journal of Hypertension, 2025)
  • Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (CDC)
  • MarketScan Commercial and Health and Productivity Management databases
  • Jun Soo Lee, Cdcp, Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • Yidan (Xue) Zhang, Ashutosh Kumar, Bruce Donald, Feijun Luo, Yu Wang, Joohyun Park, and Kakoli Roy (additional authors)

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