Association between Hypertension and D-dimer Levels in COVID-19 Patients: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Study
Mohammad Zobair Wardak*
Master of Public Health, Educational Development Center, Kabul University of Medical Science, Kabul Afghanistan
Medical Director, Afghan-Japan COVID-19 Hospital, Kabul
Deputy Head and Internal Medicine Specialist, Darussalam Hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Mohammad Zobair Wardak, MD, PGD, MPH, Educational Development Center, Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan, Afghan-Japan COVID-19 Hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan. ORCID ID: 0009-0009-7319-7258
Published: December 26, 2023
DOI: 10.55162/MCMS.06.185
Abstract
Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between hypertension and D-dimer levels in COVID-19 patients.
Patients and methods: A total of 173 PCR-positive patients were included in the study. Hypertension status was determined, and D-dimer levels were measured. Correlation analysis using Pearson's coefficient was performed to assess the association between hypertension and D-dimer levels. Odds ratios were calculated to evaluate the risk of D-dimer elevation in hypertensive patients. Relevant statistical analyses were conducted to derive meaningful insights.
Results: Among the patients, 70.5% were hypertensive. The average D-dimer level in hypertensive patients was 3533.78, whereas it was 3264.78 in normotensive patients. Correlation analysis revealed a positive association between hypertension and D-dimer levels (r = 0.0354). When considering D-dimer levels as a dichotomous variable, hypertensive patients exhibited a higher elevation-to-normal ratio (E/N ratio) of 4.54 compared to normotensive patients (E/N ratio = 2.92). The odds ratio for hypertension was 1.55, indicating an increased risk of D-dimer elevation in hypertensive patients.
Conclusion: This cross-sectional study demonstrates a positive association between hypertension and D-dimer levels in COVID-19 patients. Hypertensive individuals exhibited higher average D-dimer levels, suggesting a potential link between hypertension and increased coagulation activity in the context of COVID-19. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence linking hypertension to COVID-19 severity and emphasize the importance of monitoring D-dimer levels in hypertensive patients during COVID-19 management. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and causality between hypertension and D-dimer elevation in COVID-19 patients.
Keywords: COVID-19; hypertension; D-dimer levels; association; coagulation activity
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