Despite concerns expressed by some experts, common high blood pressure medications did not increase the risk of contracting 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19)—or of developing severe disease—in a study of 12,594 patients.
Despite concerns expressed by some experts, common high blood pressure medications did not increase the risk of contracting 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19)—or of developing severe disease—in a study of 12,594 patients.
Published online May 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study was launched in response to a March 17 joint statement issued by the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and the Heart Failure Society of America. It urgently called for research to answer a question raised by past studies: do high blood pressure (antihypertensive) medications worsen COVID-19 patient outcomes?
Led by researchers from NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the study found no links between treatment with four drug classes—angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta blockers, or calcium channel blockers—and increased likelihood of a positive test for COVID-19.
Further, the study found no substantial increase in risk for more severe illness (intensive care, use of a ventilator, or death) with any of the treatments in patients with the pandemic virus.
Read more at NYU Langone Health / NYU School of Medicine
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