Hypertension and poor outcome. This meta-analysis showed that hypertension was associated with increased composite poor outcome and its sub-group which comprises of mortality, severe COVID-19, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), need for intensive care unit (ICU) care and disease progression in patients with COVID-19. Meta-regression analysis showed that the association between hypertension and increased composite poor outcome was influenced by (a) gender, but not age, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and COPD.