High blood pressure

[itsallwrongisntit]

So I've read some of the things on these threads.
Am I right in thinking that having high blood pressure puts you more at risk?

Mine is controlled using a combination of 3 drugs one of which is Ramipril.

I've also seen that this alone can increase the risk of a bad outcome should we catch the virus.

I'm worried as I'm a single mum, I'm 40 so not old but feel concerned because if I get seriously ill it's going to be tough for the DC. I don't have any parents or anyone I can rely on for childcare for them.

This is scary.

There was an article in the Lancet that theorised the idea that ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers might make people more susceptible to the virus. The Daily mail then published the story as though it was fact.

So we don't really know, but it makes sense to take whatever precautions you can.

Also, remember that your age and sex are both associated with a lower risk of a severe infection.

I’m in a similar position and age and single mum! I don’t take medication but was prescribed Ramipril last week due to high blood pressure. I then saw the article so have not taken them and am going to contact the doctor for an alternative.

Do remember though that many old and ill people have high blood pressure anyway so there’s also a theory that this is the only reason it’s so highly represented in severe cases.

So don’t panic, speak to doctor but you’ll be ok.

I'm on Bisoprolol and Losartan. I'm going to speak to my GP on Monday and see what they think. If they agree then I'm going to ask if they would recommend swapping to a calcium channel blocker.

Which medications have they said are a risk? I'm on bisoprolol and amolodiphine

ACE inhibitors and ARB’s. They don’t KNOW they are contributing but it’s a theory as they increase ACE2 receptors and the SARS virus attaches to those so they’ve assumed SARS- COVID 19 might have the same mechanism

Bisoprolol is a beta blocker, Amilodopine is a calcium channel blocker.

@Dementedswan I just looked it up and you’re on a beta blocker and a calcium channel blocker so not affected

Does anyone know if by 'high blood pressure,' they mean current high blood pressure, or normal blood pressure which is controlled by medication? Mine is normal but that's because I take medication for it. Surely if blood pressure is normal, it can't be counted as 'high.'

I was concerned as I am on Losartan, but the European Society of Cardiology has issued a position statement on the situation, which explains things very clearly and is also comforting!

www.escardio.org/Councils/Council-on-Hypertension-(CHT)/News/position-statement-of-the-esc-council-on-hypertension-on-ace-inhibitors-and-ang

Someone posted this last night which I took comfort in:

European Society of Cardiology statement about the research on their website which states:

"" This speculation about the safety of ACE-i or ARB treatment in relation to COVID-19 does not have a sound scientific basis or evidence to support it. Indeed, there is evidence from studies in animals suggesting that these medications might be rather protective against serious lung complications in patients with COVID-19 infection, but to date there is no data in humans."

@karenenya I’ve not found the answer to this but I believe if it is just those that generally have it even if controlled. Which is why there are the two theories

1. It’s a drug that they’re taking that could be causing it
2. It’s just because it’s an older population and more people have HBP

People with diabetes also often take ACE inhibitors though and they are also at risk which strengthens first theory. But it is NOT proven

cross post!

ACE inhibitors increase risk.

CherryPavlova that is a very irresponsible thing to post. It is simply not proven, and if you read the link above, it explains why

I understand it’s not proven. And understand that people shouldn’t just stop taking drugs that are necessary.

But there IS a compelling argument in the original article in The Lancet which means that I won’t be starting to take them at this point.

Some UK scientist responses

www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-questions-about-high-blood-pressure-diabetes-and-ace-inhibitor-drugs-and-risk-of-covid-19-infection/

@CherryPavlova that is not true, so I'm not sure why you posted it?

@Liveinside I read that last night and was reassured. I'm certainly not going to stop taking my Ramipril.

All of those responses state that there is no evidence as yet that the BP drugs increase risk, and that there may even be evidence they improve odds. And that therefore people should not stop taking them.

It may well be that the increase in BP which results from stopping taking them is much more of a risk - for cardiac events as well as coronavirus.

www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m606/rr-10

Not proven in Covid-19 through research (obviously) as too current but certainly case review is looking like that is the case and worth considering a discussion with your GP about possible alternatives.

That bmj article merely raises the question for further investigation.

Case review is looking like that is the case Absolutely no idea how you can pull that from that article!

I take Ramipril, Bisoprolol and Lercanidipine.

I've had high blood pressure since my twenties and struggled to get it down. Finally given drugs a few years ago but had to tweak the doses and combine drugs to finally keep it under control.

It runs in my family so hereditary. Never smoked or anything.

I take irbesartan, amlodipine and propranolol. I got my latest repeat prescription a month ago - so due to run out in about a month. God knows if the repeat prescription will be available or not.

From my understanding ACE inhibitors do not increase the risk of complications but ACE2 inhibitors do. It's an important distinction.

Most people take ACE inhibitors, not ACE2.

The DM story was not factually correct (surprise) .

@IdentifyasTired this is completely incorrect!!!

There are no such things as ACE-2 inhibitors. Or certainly not in general medications.

ACE inhibitors increase the amount of ACE-2 receptors in the lungs. COVID-19 attaches to ACE-2 receptors. Hence the theory