Association between COVID-19 Pandemic, Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate in Young Slovak Women

Darina Falbová; Radoslav Beňuš; Simona Sulis; Lenka Kolláriková; Veronika Poliaková; Lenka Vorobeľová

doi:10.18778/1898-6773.88.3.03

Authors

Darina Falbová Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2672-0965
Radoslav Beňuš Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5917-1689
Simona Sulis Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1570-1470
Lenka Kolláriková Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2211-1581
Veronika Poliaková Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
Lenka Vorobeľová Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1898-6773.88.3.03

Keywords:

pandemic, lifestyle, young women, systolic blood pressure

Abstract

This study investigates the relationships between the COVID-19 pandemic, lifestyle factors, and their impact on blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate in young adult women from Slovakia. We assessed 552 adult women aged 18 to 30 years who were categorized into subgroups based on their pandemic status. The individual’s lifestyle was evaluated using a detailed questionnaire. BP and pulse rate were measured in the sitting position using a digital sphygmomanometer. Linear regression analysis tested the associations. The results showed no significant difference in physical activity and the proportion of fat mass (%) before and during the pandemic. Smoking prevalence increased during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels (p = 0.152). While there were no significant differences in coffee consumption, the use of hormonal contraceptives was significantly higher during the pandemic (p = 0.021). In addition, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pulse rate were significantly higher during the pandemic than before, indicating possible cardiovascular effects (SBP with p < 0.001 and pulse rate with p = 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that pandemic and fat mass (%) were significant predictors of SBP, while only physical activity and fat mass (%) were predictors of diastolic blood pressure (DBP). In addition, pandemic and physical activity were significant predictors of pulse rate. We observed significantly higher SBP and pulse rates during the pandemic than before in young adult women. Further studies are needed to investigate the long-term effects of the pandemic on SBP and pulse rate.

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References

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