The clinical and bioinformatics analysis for the role of antihypertension drugs on mortality among patients with hypertension hospitalized with COVID-19.

Abstract

Comorbidities such as hypertension could exacerbate symptoms of coronaviral disease 2019 (COVID)‐19 infection. Patients with hypertension may receive both anti‐COVID‐19 and antihypertension therapies when infected with COVID‐19. However, it is not clear how different classes of anti‐hypertension drugs impact the outcome of COVID‐19 treatment. Herein, we explore the association between the inpatient use of different classes of anti‐hypertension drugs and mortality among patients with hypertension hospitalized with COVID‐19. We totally collected data from 278 patients with hypertension diagnosed with COVID‐19 admitted to hospitals in Wuhan from February 1 to April 1, 2020. A retrospective study was conducted and single‐cell RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐Seq) analysis of treatment‐related genes was performed. The results showed that Angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and calcium channel blocker (CCB) drugs significantly increased the survival rate but the use of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor/β‐block/diuretic drugs did not affect the mortality caused by COVID‐19. Based on the analysis of four public data sets of single‐cell RNA‐Seq on COVID‐19 patients, we concluded that JUN, LST1 genes may play a role in the effect of ARB on COVID‐19‐related mortality, whereas CALM1 gene may contribute to the effect of CCB on COVID‐19‐related mortality. Our results provide guidance on the selection of antihypertension drugs for hypertensive patients infected with COVID‐19.