Global burden of new-onset hypertension associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection

•SARS-CoV-2 has a specific effect on blood pressure during and after the acute phase of infection.•Incidence of new-onset hypertension in patients with COVID-19 is higher than contemporary controls (9 % vs. 5 %).•The interaction between spike proteins and ACE2 remains a plausible mechanism underlying the raise in blood pressure.•Variants develop mutations that may promote adhesivity to ACE2 and increase the risk of new onset hypertension.