Review article
https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v6i1.239
Arterial Hypertension and Risk of Mortality in Patients with COVID-19 Infection
Nikolina Bukal
; Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Pulmonology, General Hospital ”Dr. Josip Benčević”, Slavonski Brod
Melanija Kolarić
; Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, General Hospital Varaždin
Ines Golubić
; Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, General Hospital “Dr. Tomislav Bardek”, Koprivnica
Josipa Josipović
; Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, University Hospital Centre Sisters of Mercy, Zagreb; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb
Vedran Premužić
; Department of Nephrology, Arterial Hypertension, Dialysis and Transplantation, University Hospital Centre Zagreb
Ana Jelakovic
; Department of Nephrology, Arterial Hypertension, Dialysis and Transplantation, University Hospital Centre Zagreb
Sandra Karanović
orcid.org/0000-0003-2696-5305
; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb; Department of Nephrology, Arterial Hypertension, Dialysis and Transplantation, University Hospital Centre Zagreb
Nikolina Bašić Jukić
; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb; Department of Nephrology, Arterial Hypertension, Dialysis and Transplantation, University Hospital Centre Zagreb
Bojan Jelaković
; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb; Department of Nephrology, Arterial Hypertension, Dialysis and Transplantation, University Hospital Centre Zagreb
Abstract
COVID-19 is currently a major global health concern. Among many unanswered questions related to COVID-19, some of the most debated ones are those concerning arterial hypertension. Arterial hypertension is a major risk factor for mortality worldwide and its importance has been emphasised even further in light of COVID-19. The most common antihypertensive drugs are ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II type-I receptor blockers. SARS-CoV-2 utilises the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) for cell entry and therefore has a direct effect on the renin–angiotensin system (RAS). In terms of arterial hypertension and COVID-19, there are three main issues which have been the focus of extensive debates. First, is arterial hypertension a predisposing factor for COVID-19 infection? Second, does arterial hypertension affect the severity of COVID-19 infection and increase the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality? And finally, how important is the interaction of COVID-19 infection and the renin–angiotensin system for clinical outcomes? Is RAS blockade beneficial or harmful? The aim of this brief review was to provide substantiated answers to these questions.
Keywords
arterial hypertension; COVID-19 infection; renin–angiotensin system
Hrčak ID:
275668
URI
Publication date:
27.4.2022.
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