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SF | CARDIOLOGY
July 2020 | Vol. 20 No. 6 www.medicalacademic.co.za
This article was independently sourced by Specialist Forum.
Untreated hypertension + Covid-19 = increased risk of mortality Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic globally, concerns have been raised about the possibility that renin–angiotensin– aldosterone system (RAAS) blockers could predispose individuals to severe Covid-19.1,2
Some studies show that patients treated with RAAS inhibitors have a lower risk of mortality compared to those treated with non-RAAS inhibitors
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H
owever, several subsequent studies found that RAAS inhibitors, which
include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) and direct renin inhibitors, are in fact not associated with an increased risk of infection, nor with an increased risk of severe disease, or in-hospital death among patients with Covid-19.1,2 In fact, some studies show that patients treated with RAAS inhibitors have a lower risk
of mortality compared to those treated with non-RAAS inhibitors (eg beta blockers, calcium
higher risk of severe Covid-19 or morbidity.1 An Italian study (n=6272) showed that
channel blockers [CCBs]and diuretics).1,2 Reviews published the prestigious journals the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Cardiology and Nature, all concur that there is no link between treatment with antihypertensive drugs (including ACEi inhibitors and ARBs) was not associated with either a higher likelihood of infection or a
although the use of ACEi and ARBs was more frequent among patients with Covid-19 than among control individuals (n=30 759), there was no association between these drug classes and an increased risk of infection or the severity of the disease.1 Two American studies also showed that previous treatment with antihypertensive drugs (including ACEi and ARBs) was not
