Cor Vasa 2022, 64(3):277-281 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2021.123

The Effect of Renin-Angiotensin Blockers on COVID-19 Related Mortality: A Tertiary Center's Experience

Ersan Oflara, Atilla Koyuncua, Murat Erdem Alpa, Hayat Kumbasar Karaosmanoglub, Orcun Unalc, Metin Onur Beyazd, Didem Melis Oztase, Murat Ugurlucanf, Fatma Nihan Turhan Caglar
a Cardiology Clinic, Bakirkoy Dr Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
b Infectious Diseases Clinic, Bakirkoy Dr Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul
c Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic, Yedikule Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul
d Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Medical Faculty, Hatay
e Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic, Istanbul Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul
f Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Istanbul Medipol University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul

Background: The first reports on coronaviruse disease 2019 (COVID-19) revealed an exaggerated mortality rate in hypertensive patients. In this regard, concerns about angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors' and angiotensin-receptor blockers' (ARBs) have been aroused. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the potential bad outcome effect of hypertension and anti-hypertensive therapy on COVID-19.

Methods: 183 patients with polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR)-proven COVID-19, who were admitted to our hospital and consulted to cardiology department between 15th of March and 15th of April 2020 were included. Data were recruited from hospital records.

Results: Thirty-two out of 183 patients with COVID-19 died in hospital. Hypertension incidence was not statistically different between patients who survived and died (76 [50.3%] vs 19 [59.4%, p = 0.352]). Although the usage rate of ACEI were similar among groups, ARB usage rate was significantly higher in patients who died than survived (11 [34.4%] vs 23 [15.2%], p = 0.011). Binary regression analysis showed an association between ARBs and mortality (OR: 0.032, 95% CI 1.045-2.623, p = 0.032).

Conclusion: Our study confirmed previous concerns regarding a potential harmful effects of ARBs on COVID-19 related mortality.

Keywords: Angiotensin converting enzyme, COVID-19, Pandemics, Renin-angiotensin

Received: September 19, 2021; Revised: October 16, 2021; Accepted: November 1, 2021; Published: June 22, 2022  Show citation

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Oflar E, Koyuncu A, Alp ME, Kumbasar Karaosmanoglu H, Unal O, Beyaz MO, et al.. The Effect of Renin-Angiotensin Blockers on COVID-19 Related Mortality: A Tertiary Center's Experience. Cor Vasa. 2022;64(3):277-281. doi: 10.33678/cor.2021.123.
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