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Hypertension and COVID-19: Potential use of beta-blockers and a call for randomized evidence

Mochamad Yusuf Alsagaff1, Eka Prasetya Budi Mulia2

  • 1Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga - Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia; Universitas Airlangga Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia.

Indian Heart Journal
|October 31, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Hypertension is a common COVID-19 comorbidity. Beta-blockers, a common antihypertensive, may offer benefits in COVID-19 treatment by reducing mortality and inflammation, though more research is needed.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Hypertension is a frequent comorbidity in COVID-19 patients.
  • Hypertension is associated with increased adverse outcomes in COVID-19.
  • Beta-blockers are widely prescribed antihypertensive medications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential benefits of beta-blockers in the treatment of COVID-19.
  • To review the proposed mechanisms by which beta-blockers might impact COVID-19 outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on hypertension, COVID-19, and beta-blockers.
  • Analysis of proposed pharmacological mechanisms of beta-blockers relevant to COVID-19 pathophysiology.

Main Results:

  • Beta-blockers may mitigate COVID-19 severity through several proposed mechanisms.
  • Potential mechanisms include decreasing renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity and reducing angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) levels.
  • Beta-blockers might help reduce cytokine storms and mortality in patients with COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Conclusions:

  • Beta-blockers present a potential therapeutic avenue for COVID-19 management.
  • Further large-scale randomized clinical trials are necessary to establish definitive recommendations for beta-blocker use in COVID-19.

Keywords:
ACE2AdrenergicBeta-blockerCOVID-19Hypertension

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