Management of hypertension in patients with COVID-19: Implication of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2

Abstract

The global coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has created an unprecedented, global public health crisis. Epidemiological studies showed that hypertension is a frequent comorbidity, as well as an independent prognostic risk factor in patients with COVID-19. Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) is a receptor for SARS-CoV-2, and thus essential for viral entry into human cells. This review summarizes the recent findings of epidemiology of hypertension in COVID-19 patients and highlights the critical role of ACE2. We also review the impact of endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and arterial stiffness in promoting hypertension and cardiovascular disease in COVID-19 patients. This review also discusses therapeutic strategies for managing hypertension in patients with COVID-19, with particular emphasis on ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and calcium channel blockers.