Renin-Angiotensin System Blockade and Mortality in Patients With Hypertension and COVID-19 Infection

To determine the effect renin-angiotensin system blockers on the outcome in patients with hypertension and concurrent COVID-19 infection, we searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for relevant articles. Twelve studies with a total of 16,101 patients met the inclusion criteria. The mortality rate among the users of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers was 12.15% and in non-users it was 14.56% (risk ratio 0.70, 95% CI [0.53-0.91], P < 0.007). There was no difference in the risk of death between the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (risk ratio 1.09, 95% CI [0.90 -1.32]). We conclude that the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers improves mortality in patients with hypertension and concurrent COVID-19 infection, without a significant difference between ACEIs and ARBs in this population.