Takeaway
- The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) was associated with an increased risk of COVID-19-related mortality and the use of calcium channel blockers (CCB) was associated with a lower risk of COVID-19-related hospitalisation in men.
- The use of angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARB) was associated with a lower risk of COVID-19-related mortality in women.
Why this matters
- Findings suggest that clinicians should adopt different cardiovascular disease treatment approaches for women and men with COVID-19.
Study design
- The study included 77,221 participants (age, 50-86 years) from the UK Biobank who were tested for COVID-19.
- The association between different cardiovascular medications and the risk of testing positive, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 in men and women was evaluated.
- Funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China.
Key results
- Among the middle-aged and older participants, no significant associations were seen between any class of medications and the likelihood of COVID-19 infection.
- In men with COVID-19:
- ACEI use was linked to an increased risk of COVID-19-related mortality (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.01-1.32; P=.040).
- CCB use was associated with a lower risk of COVID-19-related hospitalisation (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.79-0.96; P=.005).
- In women with COVID-19, ARB use was associated with a lower risk of COVID-19-related mortality (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.47-0.96; P=.028).
Limitations
- Study may not reflect changes in actual drug exposure during follow-up.
This clinical summary originally appeared on Univadis, part of the Medscape Professional Network.