Why the study?
Guidance conflicted on whether people with hypertension are at increased risk from COVID-19, and the implications for anti-hypertensive treatment needed summary and interpretation.
Does the continuation of ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsen COVID-19 severity or mortality in patients with hypertension?
Does the continuation of ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsen COVID-19 severity or mortality in patients with hypertension?
This scientific statement reassures that continuing ACE inhibitors and ARBs during the COVID-19 pandemic is safe and advises against discontinuing these effective treatments.
Supports continuing ACE inhibitors/ARBs during COVID-19; reinforces guideline recommendations against routine discontinuation.
Hypertension is the single largest global contributor to disability-adjusted life years lost [ 1 ]. The majority of the population aged over 60 years have hypertension [ 2 ], and it has been suggested that they may be at increased risk from the effects of COVID-19. Despite this, and perhaps due to its ubiquity in the older population, current UK Government guidance does not identify people with hypertension as ʻat risk’ [ 3 ], however, other bodies such as the British Heart Foundation and the Health Service Executive in Ireland do [ 4 , 5 ]. This article seeks to summarise and interpret the current evidence for and against an increase in COVID-19 risk and severity for those with raised blood pressure, and discusses the implications for the choice of anti-hypertensive treatment.
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Clark et al. (2021) conducted a review in COVID-19 and hypertension. ACE inhibitors and ARBs vs. Non-use or discontinuation was evaluated. Current evidence suggests that continuation of ACE inhibitors and ARBs during the COVID-19 pandemic is safe and these medications should not be discontinued.
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