Blocking angiotensin earlier with RAS blockers, statins, and heparin in high-risk COVID-19 patients: Is the remedy here?

[Retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19 depending on receiving antihypertensive, lipid-lowering and antihypertensive therapy]

BACKGROUND

The main factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular accidents and mortality among patients with COVID-19 include hyperglycemia, arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia. Therefore, all patients with COVID-19 and metabolic syndrome should receive antihypertensive (AHT), hypolipidemic (GLT) and hypoglycemic therapy (GGT). Currently, there is a limited number of studies regarding the effectiveness and safety of this therapy in patients with COVID-19.

AIM

Evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19, depending on the recipient of AHT, GLT and GGT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the clinical outcomes "discharged/died" of 1753 patients with COVID-19 was carried out depending on the received AHT, GLT and GGT.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in the risk of mortality among patients with COVID-19 was observed during therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers ACE inhibitors/ARBs (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.210.72; p0.05) and b-adrenergic blockers b-AB (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.281; p0.05). At the same time, against the background of therapy with ACE inhibitors/ARBs and b-ABs, the chance of mortality decreased more significantly among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared with patients without T2DM. Diuretic therapy was associated with a 3-fold increase in the chances of death: OR 3.33, 95% CI 1.884.79; p0.05. Statin therapy did not affect clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients. On the background of therapy with oral hypoglycemic drugs, the risk of mortality decreased 5-fold (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.070.54; p0.05). Against the background of insulin therapy, there was an increase in mortality risk by 2.8 times (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.55.29; p0.05).

CONCLUSION

A significant reduction in mortality among patients with COVID-19 was observed during therapy with ACEI/ARB, b-AB, and oral hypoglycemic therapy. Increased risk of death was associated with insulin therapy and diuretic therapy.

Inflammation and thrombosis in patients with COVID-19: A prothrombotic and inflammatory disease caused by SARS coronavirus-2

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2” (SARS-CoV-2) infection emerged in Wuhan, a city of China, and spread to the entire planet in early 2020. The virus enters the respiratory tract cells and other tissues via ACE2 receptors. Approximately 20% of infected subjects develop severe or critical disease. A cytokine storm leads to over inflammation and thrombotic events. The most common clinical presentation in COVID-19 is pneumonia, typically characterized by bilateral, peripheral, and patchy infiltrations in the lungs. However multi-systemic involvement including peripheral thromboembolic skin lesions, central nervous, gastrointestinal, circulatory, and urinary systems are reported. The disease has a higher mortality compared to other viral agents causing pneumonia and unfortunately, no approved specific therapy, nor vaccine has yet been discovered. Several clinical trials are ongoing with hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, favipiravir, and low molecular weight heparins. This comprehensive review aimed to summarize coagulation abnormalities reported in COVID-19, discuss the thrombosis, and inflammation-driven background of the disease, emphasize the impact of thrombotic and inflammatory processes on the progression and prognosis of COVID-19, and to provide evidence-based therapeutic guidance, especially from antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory perspectives.