Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Renin-Angiotensin System

Consecutively hospitalized patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China were retrospectively enrolled from January 2020 to March 2020 to investigate the association between the use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitor (RAS-I) and the outcome of this disease. Associations between the use of RAS-I (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)), ACEI, and ARB and in-hospital mortality were analyzed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models in overall and subgroup of hypertension status. A total of 2771 patients with COVID-19 were included, with moderate and severe cases accounting for 45.0% and 36.5%, respectively. A total of 195 (7.0%) patients died. RAS-I (hazard ratio (HR)= 0.499, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.325-0.767) and ARB (HR = 0.410, 95% CI 0.240-0.700) use was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality among patients with COVID-19. For patients with hypertension, RAS-I and ARB applications were also associated with a reduced risk of mortality with HR of 0.352 (95% CI 0.162-0.764) and 0.279 (95% CI 0.115-0.677), respectively. RAS-I exhibited protective effects on the survival outcome of COVID-19. ARB use was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality among patients with COVID-19.
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; COVID-19 ; Humans ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Retrospective Studies

To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tianma Gouteng Granules combined with conventional anti-hypertensive drugs in the treatment of essential hypertension. The clinical randomized controlled trials(RCTs) on the treatment of essential hypertension with Tianma Gouteng Granules combined with conventional anti-hypertensive drugs were searched in PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, VIP, CNKI, Wanfang, SinoMed since the establishment of the databases to April 2020 based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and Meta-analysis was conducted by using RevMan 5.3 software. A total of 15 RCTs were included, involving a total of 1 508 patients. Meta-analysis results showed that Tianma Gouteng Granules combined with conventional Western medicine were supe-rior to the control group in reducing systolic blood pressure(MD=-10.24, 95%CI[-13.54,-6.95], P<0.000 01), diastolic blood pressure(MD=-5.33, 95%CI[-7.21,-3.45], P<0.000 01), improving the clinical efficacy of patients(RR=1.22, 95%CI[1.15, 1.28], P<0.000 01) and curative effect of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome(RR=1.26, 95%CI[1.02, 1.57], P=0.04), increasing nitric oxide content(MD=9.59, 95%CI[7.23, 11.96], P<0.000 01), reducing endothelin-1(MD=-10.74, 95%CI[-15.74,-5.75], P<0.000 1), tumor necrosis factor(MD=-0.28, 95%CI[-0.36,-0.19], P<0.000 01), and interleukin-6(MD=-39.71, 95%CI[-43.40,-36.03], P<0.000 01). There was no statistically significant difference between the test group and the control group in the incidence of adverse reactions. No liver and kidney dysfunction occurred. The results of the subgroup analysis showed that the effect of Tianma Gouteng Granules combined with ARB drugs was more obvious in reducing the systolic and diastolic pressure. Trial sequential analysis showed that the studies accumulatively included for clinical efficacy crossed the traditional threshold and the TSA threshold, further affirming its clinical efficacy. The clinical application of Tianma Gouteng Granules combined with conventional Western medicine in the treatment of primary hypertension and accompanying symptoms has clear efficacy and certain safety, so it is recommended for clinical application.
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Essential Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular diseases are associated with an increased risk of depression, but it remains unclear whether treatment with cardiovascular agents decreases or increases this risk. The effects of drugs on individual usage are also often unknown. This review aimed to examine the correlation between depression and common cardiovascular drugs, develop more potent interventions for depression in cardiovascular patients, and further research on the bio-behavioural mechanisms linking cardiovascular drugs to depression. DATA SOURCES: The data in this review were obtained from articles included in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. STUDY SELECTION: Clinical trials, observational studies, review literature, and guidelines about depression and cardiovascular drugs were selected for the article. RESULTS: We systematically investigated whether the seven most used cardiovascular drugs were associated with altered risk of incident depression in this literature review. Statins have been proven to have antidepressant effects. Some studies believe angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) can exert an antidepressant influence by acting on the renin-angiotensin system, but further clinical trials are needed to confirm this. Beta-blockers have previously been associated with depression, but the current study found no significant association between beta blockers and the risk of depression. Aspirin may have antidepressant effects by suppressing the immune response, but its role as an antidepressant remains controversial. calcium channel blockers (CCBs) can regulate nerve signal transduction by adjusting calcium channels, but whether this effect is beneficial or harmful to depression remains unclear. Finally, some cases have reported that nitrates and diuretics are associated with depression, but the current clinical evidence is insufficient. CONCLUSIONS Statins have been proven to have antidepressant effect, and the antidepressant effects of ACEIs/ARB and aspirin are still controversial. CCBs are associated with depression, but it is unclear whether it is beneficial or harmful. No association has been found with β-blockers, diuretics, and nitrates.
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Calcium Channel Blockers/therapeutic use* ; Cardiovascular Agents/therapeutic use* ; Cardiovascular Diseases/drug therapy* ; Depression/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Renin-Angiotensin System

The safety of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) used in hemodialysis (HD) patients was evaluated. Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, some databases of clinical trial registries, grey literatures, other reference lists of eligible articles and review articles for the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on comparison of ACEIs/ARBs or placebo in HD patients were retrieved. RCTs reporting the risk of hyperkalemia by using ACEIs/ARBs in HD patients were selected. Eight articles met the eligibility criteria and were subjected to meta-analysis by using the Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan 4.2 software package. The results showed that there was no significant difference in hyperkalemia in HD patients between ACEIs or ARBs group and control group (ACEIs vs. control: RD=0.03, 95% CI=-0.13-0.18, Z=0.34, P=0.73; ARBs vs. control: RD=-0.02, 95% CI=-0.07-0.03, Z=0.75, P=0.45). However, there was no significant difference in the serum potassium between ACEIs or ARBs group and control group in HD patients (ACEIs vs. control: WMD=0.10, 95% CI=0.06-0.15, Z=4.64, P<0.00001; ARBs vs. control: WMD=-0.24, 95% CI=-0.37-0.11, Z=3.58, P=0.0003). The use of ACEIs or ARBs could not cause an increased risk of hyperkalemia in HD patients, however the serum potassium could be increased with use of ACEIs in HD patients. Therefore the serum potassium concentration should still be closely monitored when ACEIs are taken during the maintenance HD.
Aged ; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; chemically induced ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis

INTRODUCTION: There are concerns that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may worsen the outcomes of patients with COVID-19. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to study the in-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients who were on ACEIs/ARBs as compared to those not on ACEIs/ARBs. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, clinicaltrials.gov and Google Scholar between 1 January 2020 and 30 May 2020 to identify all studies that evaluated the use of ACEIs/ARBs and reported the in-hospital mortality outcomes of COVID-19 patients. Nine non-randomised studies were eligible for inclusion in the analysis. The primary outcome studied was the in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients who were on ACEIs/ARBs compared with those not on ACEIs/ARBs. RESULTS: Of the 8,313 patients in the nine studies, 7,622 (91.7%) were from studies with all-comers, while 691 (8.3%) were from studies involving only patients with hypertension. 577 (14.6%) in-hospital deaths were observed out of a total of 3,949 patients with an outcome in the nine studies. Overall, no significant difference was observed in the in-hospital mortality between patients on ACEIs/ARBs and those not on ACEIs/ARBs (odds ratio [OR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75-1.50; p = 0.73). Further sensitivity analysis in the hypertension group and the all-comers group showed similar results (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.58-1.32; p = 0.53 and OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.00-3.43; p = 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION We observed that ACEIs/ARBs had no significant impact on the in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients and can be used safely in patients with indications.
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; COVID-19 ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; SARS-CoV-2

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined treatment with angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) on diabetic kidney disease. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from CoChrane library, PubMed, EMbase, CNKI and VIP. Eleven RCTs involving 602 patients were included and analyzed with Rev Man 5.1 software. RESULTS: Compared with ACEI alone, combined treatment with ARB and ACEI was more effective on decreasing 24 h albuminuria, systolic pressure, average 24 h systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and average 24 h diastolic pressure but with a high level of serum potassium. Compared with ARB alone, combined treatment with ARB and ACEI was more effective on decreasing systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. Compared with ACEI or ARB alone, we didn't get a definite conclusion that whether combined treatment with ARB and ACEI was more effective on decreasing 24 h proteinuria. CONCLUSION Based on this Meta analysis, combined treatment with ARB and ACEI is safer and has positive effect on diabetic kidney disease. However, small sample size and low methodological quality appeared in most of the trials included in this systematic review. Therefore, available evidence is insufficient to recommend a routine clinical application of combined treatment with ARB and ACEI on diabetic kidney disease.
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

BACKGROUNDAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent tachyarrhythmia in patients with a permanent pacemaker. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists have a protective effect against the occurrence of AF in patients with heart diseases. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of olmesartan in the prevention of new-onset AF and AF burden in atrioventricular block (AVB) patients with dual-chamber (DDD) pacemaker implantation.

METHODSThis was a single-center, prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled clinical study. A total of 116 AVB patients, who received DDD pacemakers implantation with the percentage of ventricular pacing (VP%) ≥40% from April 22, 2011 to December 24, 2012, were prospectively randomized to olmesartan group (20 mg per day; n = 57) or control group (n = 59). Patients were followed up using pacemaker programming, 12-lead electrocardiography in the intrinsic sinus rhythm, laboratory examinations, and transthoracic echocardiography at 24 months. Atrial high rate events (AHREs) were defined as 180 beats/min over a minimum of 5 min. AF burden was calculated by the number of hours with AHREs divided by the number of measurement hours.

RESULTSTen (17.5%) patients in the olmesartan group and 24 patients (40.7%) in the control group occurred new-onset AF, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.04). AF burden was lower in olmesartan group than that in control group (8.02 ± 3.10% vs. 13.66 ± 6.14%, P = 0.04). There were no significant differences in mean days to the first occurrence of AHREs and mean cumulative numbers of AHREs between two groups (P = 0.89 and P = 0.42, respectively). Moreover, olmesartan group had smaller values of maximal P-wave durations and P-wave dispersion (PD) after 24 months follow-up compared with the control group (109.5 ± 7.4 ms vs. 113.4 ± 7.1 ms, P = 0.00; and 40.6 ± 4.5 ms vs. 43.3 ± 4.4 ms, P = 0.02, respectively). Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and left ventricular ejection fraction were not significantly different between two groups (both P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThis study suggested that 24-month of olmesartan therapy could reduce new-onset AF and AF burden in patients with DDD pacemakers.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATIONChiCTR-TRC-12004443; http://www.chictrdb.org.

Aged ; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation ; drug therapy ; Atrioventricular Block ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Single-Blind Method ; Tetrazoles ; therapeutic use

Background: Treatment with the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy (DN) has not been well characterized. This study aimed to assess the renoprotection of this combined treatment in DN patients. Methods: A total of 159 type 2 DN patients from 2013 to 2015 were enrolled retrospectively from a prospective DN cohort at the National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital (China). Fifty-seven patients received DPP4i and ARB treatment, and 102 patients were treated with ARBs alone. All patients were followed up for at least 12 months. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 12.0. Results: There were no significant differences at baseline for age, sex, body mass index, duration of diabetes, fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between the two groups. Antihypertensive and antidiabetic medication use was similar in each group except calcium channel antagonists (P = 0.032). No significant changes in FBG and HbA1c were observed in the two groups after treatment. The eGFR decreased slower in the DPP4i + ARB group than in the ARB group at 12 months (Δ12 months: -2.48 ± 13.86 vs. -6.81 ± 12.52 ml·min·1.73m, P = 0.044). In addition, proteinuria was decreased further in the DPP4i + ARB group than in the ARB group after 24 months of treatment (Δ24 months: -0.18 [-1.00, 0.17] vs. 0.32 [-0.35, 0.88], P = 0.031). There were 36 patients with an eGFR decrease of more than 30% over 24 months. After adjusting for FBG, HbA1c, and other risk factors, DPP4i + ARB treatment was still associated with a reduced incidence of an eGFR decrease of 20% or 30%. Conclusions The combined treatment of DPP4i and ARBs is superior to ARBs alone, as evidenced by the greater proteinuria reduction and lower eGFR decline. In addition, the renoprotection of DPP4i combined with ARBs was independent of glycemic control.
Aged ; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Losartan ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo examine the efficacy and safety of dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) among patients with type 2 diabetic kidney disease.

DATA SOURCESWe searched the major literature repositories, including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE and EMBASE, for randomized clinical trials published between January 1990 and October 2015 that compared the efficacy and safety of the use of dual blockade of the RAAS versus the use of monotherapy, without applying any language restrictions. Keywords for the searches included "diabetic nephropathy," "chronic kidney disease," "chronic renal insufficiency," "diabetes mellitus," "dual therapy," "combined therapy," "dual blockade," "renin-angiotensin system," "angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor," "angiotensin-receptor blocker," "aldosterone blockade," "selective aldosterone blockade," "renin inhibitor," "direct renin inhibitor," "mineralocorticoid receptor blocker," etc.

STUDY SELECTIONThe selected articles were carefully reviewed. We excluded randomized clinical trials in which the kidney damage of patients was related to diseases other than diabetes mellitus.

RESULTSCombination treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor supplemented by an angiotensin II receptor blocking agent is expected to provide a more complete blockade of the RAAS and a better control of hypertension. However, existing literature has presented mixed results, in particular, related to patient safety. In view of this, we conducted a comprehensive literature review in order to explain the rationale for dual blockade of the RAAS, and to discuss the pros and cons.

CONCLUSIONSDespite the negative results of some recent large-scale studies, it may be immature to declare that the dual blockade is a failure because of the complex nature of the RAAS surrounding its diversified functions and utility. Further trials are warranted to study the combination therapy as an evidence-based practice.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects