Kinoshita M, Sato K, Vellingiri B, Green SJ, Tanaka M. Inverse association between hypertension treatment and COVID-19 prevalence in Japan.
Int J Infect Dis 2021;
108:517-521. [PMID:
34089886 PMCID:
PMC8172356 DOI:
10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.071]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives
Cell entry of SARS-CoV-2 depends on angiotensin-converting enzyme II. Angiotensin-converting enzyme II is homologous with, but acts antagonistically to, angiotensin-converting enzyme and has the critical function of protecting the lungs. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are major antihypertensive agents. Thus, we aimed to analyze the impact of the prevalence of preexisting hypertension on the local spread of COVID-19.
Methods
Data on SARS-CoV-2 infection and the estimated number of patients who received medical treatment on the basis of disease classification using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (10th Revision) in each prefecture were obtained from the official Japanese notifications database. We analyzed the association between the proportion of patients with each disease and SARS-CoV-2-infection prevalence.
Results
The ratio of patients treated for diseases of the circulatory system, especially hypertensive disorders, per population demonstrated the most significant negative correlation with SARS-CoV-2-infection prevalence (Spearman’s rank correlation, P < 0.01). Age group analysis revealed a significant negative correlation in age groups 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, 75–84, and ≥85.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that hypertension treatment may play a protective role against the local spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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