OBELIX - cOvid-19 Blood pressure EndotheLIum interaction study [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
OBELIX - cOvid-19 Blood pressure EndotheLIum interaction study\n\n
IRAS ID
284453
Contact name
Rhian M. Touyz
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
The current COVID-19 pandemic (caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus) represents the biggest medical challenge in decades. Whilst COVID-19 mainly affects the lungs it also affects multiple organ systems, including the cardiovascular system. There are documented associations between severity of disease and risk of death and advancing age, male sex and associated comorbid disease (hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, diabetes, obesity, COPD and cancer). The most common complications include cardiac dysrhythmia, cardiac injury, myocarditis, heart failure, pulmonary embolism and disseminated intravascular coagulation.\n\nIt is thought that the mechanism of action of the virus involves binding to a host transmembrane enzyme (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)) to enter some lung, heart and immune cells and cause further damage. While ACE2 is essential for viral invasion, it is unclear if the use of the common antihypertensive drugs ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) alter prognosis. \n\nThis study aims to look closely at the health of the vascular system of patients after being treated in hospital for COVID-19 (confirmed by PCR test) and compare them to patients who had a hospital admission for suspected COVID-19 (negative PCR test) . Information from this study is essential so that clinicians treating patients with high blood pressure understand the impact of the condition and these hypertension medicines in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. This will allow doctors to effectively treat and offer advice to patients currently prescribed these medications or who are newly diagnosed with hypertension.\n
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NE/0162
Date of REC Opinion
2 Jun 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion