Acceptance of COVID-19 boosters among hypertensive patients in China: A multicenter cross-sectional study

Abstract

Hypertension, a prevalent chronic disease, has been associated with increased COVID-19 severity. To promote the COVID-19 booster vaccination of hypertensive patients, this study investigated the willingness to receive boosters and the related influencing factors based on the health belief model (HBM model). Between June and October 2022, 453 valid questionnaires were collected across three Chinese cities. The willingness to receive a booster vaccination was 72.2%. The main factors that influenced the willingness of patients with hypertension to receive a booster shot were male (χ2 = 7.008, p =.008), residence in rural (χ2 = 4.778, p =.029), being in employment (χ2 = 7.232, p =.007), taking no or less antihypertensive medication (χ2 = 9.372, p =.025), with less hypertension-related comorbidities (χ2 = 35.888, p