Covid-19 vaccination coverage and associated factors among older hypertensive patients in Hangzhou, China.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination could provide effective protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aims to describe the COVID-19 vaccination coverage and influential factors in Chinese older hypertensive patients.

METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, participants were randomly selected from the electronic health records system during the pandemic era in Hangzhou, China. Logistic regression models were employed to compute the OR and 95% CI in order to assess the relationships between variables and the extent of COVID-19 vaccination coverage.

RESULTS: As of 3 August 2022, among a sample of 77 970 individuals, 75.11% had completed the full COVID-19 vaccination, while 57.66% had received a booster dose. Disparities in coverage were observed across genders, regions and age groups. Unhealthy lifestyles, cardiovascular disease, cancer, uncontrolled blood pressure, abnormal fasting plasma glucose, dyslipidemia and renal dysfunction were risk factors for COVID-19 vaccination coverage. The coverage rates continuously declined along with the number of risk factors. The ORs for full and booster vaccination in subjects with ≥4 risk factors were 2.55 (2.12∼3.07) and 2.60 (2.16∼3.13), compared to individuals without risk factors.

CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 vaccination program for older hypertensive patients must be strengthened further. Emphasis should be placed on patients who reside in urban areas, have comorbidities or multiple risk factors.