The results of a new medical study indicate that drugs used to treat hypertension have a high probability of improving recovery rates for COVID-19 patients – as well as reducing the chances of early death.
Based on studies by the University of East Anglia involving 28,000 subjects taking high-blood pressure medicines like Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) or Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, they discovered the risk of developing serious COVID-19 sickness was diminished by one-third. The study also found that the risk of dying from the virus was reduced when taking the antihypertensives.
According to lead scientist Dr. Vassilios Vassiliou, from the UEA's Norwich Medical School, they found that antihypertension drugs significantly lowered the risk of illness and mortality of patients with high blood pressure. ACE and ARBs are also used for the treatment of diabetes and heart ailments.
Over six million people in Europe take antihypertensives on a regular basis, and further studies are required to determine if the medication could be effective in patients with no hypertension. Medical authorities said the results of the studies are very encouraging for millions of coronavirus patients taking the medication.
In separate research published in the Current Atherosclerosis Reports, COVID-19 patients with hypertension who were taking the drugs were 0.67 times less likely to develop a serious or fatal result compared to those who were not. The research looked closely at whether the patients experienced so-called "critical events" – subjected to intensive care and invasive or non-invasive respiration – or even death.
The virus uses the same ACE2 receptor to latch on to cells and attack the body. Vassiliou suggested the drugs work by stabilizing blood pressure and reducing inflammation in the body. He pointed out that they can now conclude that people who are taking high blood pressure drugs should continue taking them to reduce their chances of falling into critical events.
Vassiliou said that as the world anticipates a possible second wave of COVID-19 infections, it is important that people have a clear grasp of the positive effect that these treatments have on patients suffering from the disease.
