CONCLUSION
The anti-inflammatory role of ACEI/ARB offers a very attractive treatment option in hypertensive or heart failure patients at risk or suffering from COVID-19. However it would not be prudent to rationalize clinical usage solely based on mechanistic hypothesis without gathering robust evidence from comprehensive clinical trials. Currently, none of the practice guidelines in cardiology around the globe favors ad-hoc discontinuation of ACEI/ARB in a patient at risk of COVID. On the other hand there is also no compelling data, currently, to recommend introduction of ACEI/ARB into the therapy regimen of COVID-19 patient. However, taking view of the available evidence of favorable immuno-mechanistic and clinical outcome data, continuation of ACEI/ARB in patients of hypertension and heart failure seems to be a more prudent approach, even though they are at risk of or suffering from COVID-19.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT : DS wants to thank DST-INSPIRE for the fellowship
CONFLICT OF INTEREST : Authors declare no conflict of interest