Position Paper of the Department of Hypertension of the Brazilian Society of Nephrology: Use of renin-angiotensin system blockers during the course of Covid-19 infection

ABSTRACT

This position statement of the Department of Hypertension of the Brazilian Society of Nephrology (SBN) addresses the controversy surrounding the use or suspension/replacement of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers (particularly inhibitors of the angiotensin-converting enzyme or angiotensin II AT1 receptor blockers) prophylactically in individuals using these drugs, due to the possibility of allegedly worsening the prognosis of hypertensive patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The SBN Hypertension Department recommends individualizing treatment and maintaining these medications until better scientific evidence is available.

Considering the correspondence called “Are patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus at a higher risk of infection by Covid-19?”¹ , recently published in The Lancet, in which the authors suggest the association of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers (RAAS), particularly angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II AT1 receptor blockers, in patients with heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes mellitus at increased risk of severe Covid-19 infection, who should therefore be monitored.

Based on this, and considering the beginning of speculations at a national and international level about the harm of maintaining these antihypertensive drugs in those infected with SARS-CoV-2, despite the lack of scientifical, clinical or experimental evidence;

Furthermore, considering that arterial hypertension per se may not be directly correlated with the risk of infection or its worsening, there would be no indication for suspending these drugs or their preventive replacement in hypertensive patients during a pandemic outbreak;

In addition, considering that, paradoxically, there are divergences between the recommendations of the publications available to date, with arguments in favor² and against its use¹ , even in hypertensive individuals proven to be infected;

Moreover, considering that there is new data from observational studies concerning possible protection of the RAAS blockers against negative outcomes, including mortality, in those infected with SARS-CoV-2 using these antihypertensive classes;^{3 , 4}

Finally, considering that the risk of cardiovascular and renal morbidity and mortality is directly associated with the lack of blood pressure control.

The Department of Arterial Hypertension of the Brazilian Society of Nephrology, as well as other Societies of National^{5 , 6} and International^{7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12} medical specialties, recommend the maintenance of these classes of drugs, even in those with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 infection, unless hypotension occurs due to sepsis or another cause, which would lead to the suspension of any and all antihypertensive drugs, and not specifically of RASS blockers, always taking into account the individualized treatment that results in the greatest possible benefit to the patient.

This position statement may change in status at any time when better scientific evidence emerges.