The rationale, protocol and preliminary results of the ESH ABPM COVID-19 study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the subsequent lockdown profoundly affected almost all aspects of daily life including health services worldwide. The traditional risk factors for increased blood pressure (BP) and hypertension may also demonstrate significant changes during the pandemic. The ESH ABPM COVID-19 Study aims to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on BP control and BP phenotypes assessed with ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). This is a multi-center, observational, retrospective and comparative study involving Excellence Centres of the European Society of Hypertension across Europe. Along with clinical data office BP, 24-hour ABPM recordings will be collected in adult patients with treated arterial hypertension. There will be two groups in the study: Group 1 will consist of participants who have undergone two ABPM recordings - the second one occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e., after March 2020, and the first one 9-15 months prior to the second. Participants in Group 2 will have two repeated ABPM recordings - both performed before the pandemic within similar a 9-15 month interval between the recordings. We will analyze BP variables and phenotypes (including averaged daytime and nighttime BP, BP variability, dipper and non-dipper status, white-coat and masked hypertension) between the two respective ABPM recordings and compare these changes between the groups. Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for established cardiovascular disease (CVD). By extending our knowledge about effects of COVID-19 pandemic on BP control in patients with hypertension, we can propose appropriately effective strategies for providing adequate medical care in case of new pandemic waves and for long-term care, which will reduce incidence of CVD as a consequence of the current pandemic.