ScholarWorks@성균관대학교

초록

Patients with COVID-19 at risk of a challenging prognosis often have underlying conditions, such as hypertension or diabetes, which could lead to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In this study, we categorized patients with COVID-19 based on the presence of hypertension and analyzed the blood proteins associated with blood pressure regulation. During the early phase of infection, patients with both conditions who exhibited elevated levels of regulator of G protein signaling 2 (RGS2) and scaffold protein spinophilin (SPL) were closely monitored. Elevated RGS2 and SPL levels were associated with markedly increased incidence of ARDS (75.7%) and significantly higher in non-survivors compared with that in survivors (RGS2: 95% CI, 34.57–43.69; SPL: 95% CI, 3.92–4.14; p = 0.0002). We also investigated the correlation between the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and severity biomarkers in patients with hypertension. Among patients with hypertension who succumbed to COVID-19, several patterns have emerged, including a higher incidence of preexisting cardiovascular diseases and stroke, elevated blood pressure upon admission, escalated inflammation, and considerable lung damage. Our findings highlight a pressing need to develop rapid diagnostic kits capable of accurately measuring RGS2 and SPL levels in the blood and employ precise diagnostic techniques to prepare for potential post-pandemic medical challenges.

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