Question. What is the link between hypertension and negative impact of Covid 19 . Why is it considered one of the worse comorbidities?

Dr Nishith Chandra’s reply

In the initial studies of COVID patients from Wuhan, China & Lombardy, Italy, it has been found that majority of patients, who developed severe critical illness, after COVID had high blood pressure. As the prevalence of HT increases in the elderly population, so are the other Co-Morbidities, which put the patients at higher risk of development of complications. Another controversy, related to HT and COVID was the use of some types of anti-HT medicines, like Angio Tension Receptor Blockers ( ARB) like Telmisartan, commonly used for HT. It was hypothesized inititally, that use of these ARB, might upregulate the expression of ACE2 receptors, facilitating the entry of virus inside the cells. But a number of studies conducted later have not found any association between use of ARB and increased incidence of COVID. So the guidelines are, that none of the anti HT medicines being used, have to be stopped in a COVID patient.

EXPLAINER
you have high blood pressure, it's a good idea to take extra care to protect yourself during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Early research shows that people with the condition may be more likely to:
Get COVID-19
Have worse symptoms

Why what’s the link ?

A weaker immune system is one reason people with high blood pressure and other health problems are at higher risk for coronavirus. Long-term health conditions and aging weaken your immune system so it's less able to fight off the virus. Nearly two-thirds of people over 60 have high blood pressure.