Angiotensin receptor blockers had no significant effects when used for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19, researchers report. Most patients in the placebo-controllled study were from India, had mild disease that did not require oxygen, and were treated with telmisartan 40 mg/d.
Using a main outcome measure of COVID-19 disease severity using a modified World Health Organization Clinical Progression Scale (WHO scale) at day 14, the authors report: “The median WHO scale score at day 14 was 1 (interquartile range 1-1) in 384 participants assigned angiotensin receptor blockers and 1 (1-1) in 382 participants assigned placebo (adjusted odds ratio 1.51 (95% credible interval 1.02 to 2.23), probability of an odds ratio of >1 (Pr(OR>1) = 0.98). WHO scale scores at day 28 showed little evidence of difference between groups (1.02 (0.55 to 1.87), Pr(OR>1) = 0.53). The trial was stopped when a prespecified futility rule was met.”