Hypertension and COVID-19: Current Evidence and Perspectives.
High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev
; 29(2): 115-123, 2022 Mar.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1706541
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), represents a real challenge for health-care systems worldwide. Male sex, older age and the coexistence of chronic comorbidities have been described as the most relevant conditions associated with a worse prognosis. Early reports suggested that hypertension might represent a risk factor for susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, a more severe course of COVID-19 and increased COVID-19-related deaths. Nevertheless, the independent role of hypertension remains under debate, since hypertension is often associated with the older age and other cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in the general population, which may also contribute to the SARS-Cov-2 infection and COVID-19. Moreover, the role of antihypertensive drugs, primarily angiotensin-converting inhibitors (ACEIs) and ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers) in COVID-19 development and outcome appears controversial. Indeed, preclinical studies using these classes of drugs have suggested a potential upregulation of angiotensin-converting-enzyme 2 (ACE2) which is the key binding receptor promoting cell entry of SARS-CoV-2 in the organism. Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers may potentially upregulate ACE2, hence, it has been initially hypothesized that these agents might contribute to a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and progressive course of COVID-19. However, several clinical reports do not support a detrimental role of RAS blockers in COVID-19, and an intense debate about the withdrawal or maintenance of chronic therapy with ACEi/ARB has been developed. In this review we will discuss the available evidence on the role of hypertension and antihypertensive drugs on SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 development.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
/
Hypertension
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S40292-022-00506-9
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