Study finds rises in blood pressure during 2020 pandemic

New research shows significant increases in blood pressure levels during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Cleveland Clinic study analyzed blood pressure data from April to December 2020, and compared it to the same time period in 2019.

Researchers found that 26.8% of participants were re-categorized to a higher blood pressure category, while only 22% were dropped down to a lower one.

Before the pandemic, blood pressure measures were largely unchanged when comparing study years.

The authors determined that the increases in blood pressure were likely related to changes in eating habits, increased alcohol consumption, less physical activity, decreased medication adherence, more emotional stress and poor sleep.