COVID-19 + ACE-Is or ARBs – European Society of Cardiology Position Statement

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There has been speculation in medical journals, online discussion forums and elsewhere about a possible link between treatment with ACE-inhibitors or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and more severe consequences of COVID-19 infection.

The European Society of Cardiology have reviewed the evidence and issued the following statement:

The Council on Hypertension of the European Society of Cardiology wish to highlight the lack of any evidence supporting harmful effect of ACE-I and ARB in the context of the pandemic COVID-19 outbreak.

The Council on Hypertension strongly recommend that physicians and patients should continue treatment with their usual anti-hypertensive therapy because there is no clinical or scientific evidence to suggest that treatment with ACEi or ARBs should be discontinued because of the Covid-19 infection.

Similar position statements have been published by the European Society of Hypertension, the British Cardiovascular Society, the British Society for Heart Failure and the Renal Association – which has re-republished a management algorithm for acutely unwell people treated with ACE-Is or ARBs from