Social isolation is found to be linked to high blood pressure in patients

Majority of the patients admitted to an emergency in the hospital during COVID-19 pandemic is found to have a high blood pressure says a study presented at the Argentine Congress of Cardiology (SAC). The result of the study was revealed at the 46th meeting of SAC which was held virtually from 19th to 21st of November 2020.

Study author Dr. Matias Fosco said that after social isolation was made mandatory, the patients going to the emergency had high blood pressure, which is the reason why they decided to conduct a test so as to accept or reject this impression. "Admission to the emergency department during the mandatory social isolation period was linked with a 37% increase in the odds of having high blood pressure even after taking into account age, gender, month, day and time of consultation, and whether or not the patient arrived by ambulance," he added.

The study that included around 12,240 patients was conducted in Favaloro Foundation University hospital in Argentina where the blood pressure of patients during the three months of isolation was compared with the same time period the previous year and a three-month period just before the isolation was made mandatory.

Social isolation which is found to be the best measure one could follow to remain safe from the virus was made mandatory in Argentina in March. All except health workers were asked to stay back home and all public events and institutions were shut down. The increased stress due to the pandemic, limited personal contact, fear of contracting the virus, financial and familial distress, and changing behavioural patterns are the major contributors to high blood pressure in the patients.

By showing how the psychology of a person is affected during the pandemic-induced isolation period and how it reflects on his or her physical health, the collateral damage of social isolation is revealing one after the other. Blood pressure balance is significant in preventing cardiovascular diseases and hence doctors have urged to monitor cardiac patients beyond the pandemic, provide them careful treatment and emphasise on the need to shift to a healthy lifestyle so that the situation doesn't get adverse in the future,