Hypertension, medications, and risk of severe COVID-19: A Massachusetts community-based observational study

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2021 Jan;23(1):21-27. doi: 10.1111/jch.14101. Epub 2020 Nov 21.

Abstract

It remains uncertain whether the hypertension (HT) medications angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) mitigate or exacerbate SARS-CoV-2 infection. We evaluated the association of ACEi and ARB with severe coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) as defined by hospitalization or mortality among individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. We investigated whether these associations were modified by age, the simultaneous use of the diuretic thiazide, and the health conditions associated with medication use. In an observational study utilizing data from a Massachusetts group medical practice, we identified 1449 patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis. In our study, pre-infection comorbidities including HT, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes were associated with increased risk of severe COVID-19. Risk was further elevated in patients under age 65 with these comorbidities or cancer. Twenty percent of those with severe COVID-19 compared to 9% with less severe COVID-19 used ACEi, 8% and 4%, respectively, used ARB. In propensity score-matched analyses, use of neither ACEi (OR = 1.30, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.81) nor ARB (OR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.55) was associated with increased risk of severe COVID-19. Thiazide use did not modify this relationship. Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and anticoagulant medications were not associated with COVID-19 severity. In conclusion, cardiovascular-related comorbidities were associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes, especially among patients under age 65. We found no substantial increased risk of severe COVID-19 among patients taking antihypertensive medications. Our findings support recommendations against discontinuing use of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors to prevent severe COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; angiotensin receptor blockers; angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; hypertension; renin-angiotensin system.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / adverse effects*
  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / adverse effects*
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Antihypertensive Agents / adverse effects
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • COVID-19 / complications*
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Massachusetts / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Renin-Angiotensin System / drug effects
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2 / genetics
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors