COVID-19 In-Hospital Mortality and Use of Renin-Angiotensin System Blockers in Geriatrics Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The role of treatment with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers at the onset of COVID-19 infection is not known in the geriatric population. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) use and in-hospital mortality in geriatric patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN: This observational retrospective study was conducted in a French geriatric department. Patients were included between March 17 and April 18, 2020. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: All consecutive 201 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 (confirmed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction methods) were included. All nondeceased patients had 30 days of follow-up and no patient was lost to follow-up. METHODS: Demographic, clinical, and biological data and medications were collected. In-hospital mortality of patients treated or not by ACEI/ARB was analyzed using multivariate Cox models. RESULTS: Mean age of the population was 86.3 (8.0) years, 62.7% of patients were institutionalized, 88.6% had dementia, and 53.5% had severe disability (activities of daily living [ADL] score <2). Sixty-three patients were treated with ACEI/ARB and 138 were not. Mean follow-up was 23.4 (10.0) days, 66 (33.8%) patients died after an average of 10.0 days (6.0). Lower mortality rate was observed in patients treated with ACEI/ARB compared with patients not treated with ARB or ACEI (22.2% [14] vs 37.7% [52], hazard ratio [HR] 0.54; 95% confidence interval 0.30-0.97; P = .03). In a multivariate Cox regression model including age, sex, ADL score, Charlson index, renal function, dyspnea, C-reactive protein, and white blood cell count, use of ACEI/ARB was significantly associated with lower in-hospital mortality (HR 0.52 (0.27-0.99), P = .048). CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: In very old subjects hospitalized in geriatric settings for COVID-19, mortality was significantly lower in subjects treated with ARB or ACEI before the onset of infection. The continuation of ACEI/ARB therapy should be encouraged during periods of coronavirus outbreak in older subjects.

[Hypertension in the elderly]. / Hypertension artérielle du sujet âgé.

After 80 years old, antihypertensive treatment significantly reduces cardiovascular events. In the elderly, blood pressure target depends on patients' frailty. After 80 years, French guidelines propose to aim a SBP<150 mmHg without orthostatic hypotension and without exceeding the prescription of more than three antihypertensive drugs. The target may be more ambitious for robust elderly patients. The new 2018 European guidelines set: a stricter target for robust elderly patient aged 80 years or older (SBP between 130 and 139 mmHg and DBP between 70 and 79 mmHg); this objective is less strict for frail elderly (with several comorbidities, with loss of autonomy, elderly living in nursing home or with orthostatic hypotension). A recent randomized controlled trial shows a significant reduction in mortality and cardiovascular events by achieving a low blood pressure goal in patients over the age of 75 years old. Five major drug classes can be used: thiazide diuretics, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers and beta-blockers. Beta-blockers are less efficient to prevent stroke and are indicated in second line. However, beta-blockers represent first choice of treatment in cases of heart failure, coronary artery disease or atrial fibrillation. Appropriate follow-up and monitoring enable assessment of safety (recording BP while standing, ionogram, creatinine).

Pulse Wave Velocity Is Associated With Greater Risk of Dementia in Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients.

To investigate the association between pulse wave velocity, intima-media thickness, carotid artery diameter, carotid plaques, and conversion from mild cognitive impairment to dementia. Three hundred and seventy-five elderly ambulatory subjects with mild cognitive impairment were followed yearly to examine potential conversion to dementia. Vascular function was assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity. Vascular structure was evaluated by intima-media thickness, carotid artery diameter, and carotid plaques using an ultrasonographic assessment of carotid arteries. One hundred and five patients (28%) converted to dementia during a mean follow-up period of 4.5 years. Higher pulse wave velocity was associated with greater risk of conversion to dementia (1-SD increase of pulse wave velocity: hazard ratio, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.04-1.71; P=0.02) independently of age, sex, educational level, systolic blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, body mass index, calcium channel blockers intake, Mini-Mental State Examination at baseline, and apoE ε4 status. Intima-media thickness, carotid plaques, and carotid artery diameter did not predict conversion to dementia (1-SD increase of intima-media thickness: hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.73-1.18; P=0.55; presence of carotid plaques: hazard ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.62-1.87; P=0.79; 1-SD increase of carotid artery diameter: hazard ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.89-1.31; P=0.44). Pulse wave velocity was associated with conversion to dementia, whereas intima-media thickness, carotid plaques, or carotid artery diameter were not after controlling for age and other confounding factors. Arterial stiffness could identify mild cognitive impairment patients at higher risk of dementia and may be a therapeutic target to delay or prevent the onset of dementia.