Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors in Patients With COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Led by the International Society of Hypertension

Sonali R Gnanenthiran, Claudio Borghi, Dylan Burger, Bruno Caramelli, Fadi Charchar, Julio A Chirinos, Jordana B Cohen, Antoine Cremer, Gian Luca Di Tanna, Alexandre Duvignaud, Daniel Freilich, D H Frank Gommans, Abraham E Gracia-Ramos, Thomas A Murray, Facundo Pelorosso, Neil R Poulter, Michael A Puskarich, Konstantinos D Rizas, Rodolfo Rothlin, Markus P SchlaichMichael Schreinlecher, Ulrike Muscha Steckelings, Abhinav Sharma, George S Stergiou, Christopher J Tignanelli, Maciej Tomaszewski, Thomas Unger, Roland R J van Kimmenade, Richard D Wainford, Bryan Williams, Anthony Rodgers, Aletta E Schutte*, COVID‐METARASI Consortium

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

Background Published randomized controlled trials are underpowered for binary clinical end points to assess the safety and efficacy of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) in adults with COVID-19. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to assess the safety and efficacy of RASi in adults with COVID-19. Methods and Results MEDLINE, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Controlled Trial Register were searched for randomized controlled trials that randomly assigned patients with COVID-19 to RASi continuation/commencement versus no RASi therapy. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at ≤30 days. A total of 14 randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria and enrolled 1838 participants (aged 59 years, 58% men, mean follow-up 26 days). Of the trials, 11 contributed data. We found no effect of RASi versus control on all-cause mortality (7.2% versus 7.5%; relative risk [RR], 0.95; [95% CI, 0.69-1.30]) either overall or in subgroups defined by COVID-19 severity or trial type. Network meta-analysis identified no difference between angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors versus angiotensin II receptor blockers. RASi users had a nonsignificant reduction in acute myocardial infarction (2.1% versus 3.6%; RR, 0.59; [95% CI, 0.33-1.06]), but increased risk of acute kidney injury (7.0% versus 3.6%; RR, 1.82; [95% CI, 1.05-3.16]), in trials that initiated and continued RASi. There was no increase in need for dialysis or differences in congestive cardiac failure, cerebrovascular events, venous thromboembolism, hospitalization, intensive care admission, inotropes, or mechanical ventilation. Conclusions This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluating angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers versus control in patients with COVID-19 found no difference in all-cause mortality, a borderline decrease in myocardial infarction, and an increased risk of acute kidney injury with RASi. Our findings provide strong evidence that RASi can be used safely in patients with COVID-19.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere026143
Number of pages48
JournalJournal of the American Heart Association
Volume11
Issue number17
Early online date24 Aug 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Sept 2022

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