Trial Outcomes & Findings for Stopping ACE-inhibitors in COVID-19 (NCT NCT04353596)

NCT ID: NCT04353596

Last Updated: 2022-09-13

Results Overview

The score is calculated from six different components, each of which reflects the status of an organ system, including respiratory function, cardiovascular integrity, liver function, coagulation, renal function and neurological status. The score can range from 0 (best) to 24 (worst). In case of death, the patient was by definition assigned the maximum value of 24. Outpatients were assigned a value of 0 or 24 (in the case of death).

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE4

Target enrollment

216 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

30 days

Results posted on

2022-09-13

Participant Flow

Between April 20, 2020, and Jan 20, 2021, 204 participants were randomly assigned to discontinuation (n=109) or continuation (n=107) of RAS inhibition, at 35 centres, including 19 university clinics and 16 large referral hospitals, in Austria and Germany.

Of 2301 patients, who were assessed for eligibility, 216 underwent randomization. 1921 were excluded due violation of inclusion or exclusion criteria.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Discontinuation Group
Discontinuation of chronic ACEI or ARB pretreatment
Continuation Group
Continuation of chronic ACEI or ARB pretreatment
Overall Study
STARTED
109
107
Overall Study
Per Protocol
104
100
Overall Study
COMPLETED
104
100
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
5
7

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Discontinuation Group
Discontinuation of chronic ACEI or ARB pretreatment
Continuation Group
Continuation of chronic ACEI or ARB pretreatment
Overall Study
Protocol Violation
4
4
Overall Study
no evidence of recent SARS-CoV-2
1
3

Baseline Characteristics

Stopping ACE-inhibitors in COVID-19

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Discontinuation Group
n=104 Participants
Chronic pretreatment with ACEI or ARB will be stopped or replaced. Substitution with an alternative substance class was at the discretion of the treating physician
Continuation Group
n=100 Participants
No intervention, which means further treatment with ACEI or ARB. In patients, randomized to continuation, it may be needed to stop ACEI or ARB (e.g. hypotension with beginning sepsis) irrespective of the study.
Total
n=204 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
74 years
n=93 Participants
75 years
n=4 Participants
75 years
n=27 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
39 Participants
n=93 Participants
36 Participants
n=4 Participants
75 Participants
n=27 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
65 Participants
n=93 Participants
64 Participants
n=4 Participants
129 Participants
n=27 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=93 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
0 Participants
n=27 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=93 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
0 Participants
n=27 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=93 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
0 Participants
n=27 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
n=93 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
0 Participants
n=27 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
104 Participants
n=93 Participants
100 Participants
n=4 Participants
204 Participants
n=27 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=93 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
0 Participants
n=27 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=93 Participants
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
0 Participants
n=27 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Austria
59 participants
n=93 Participants
57 participants
n=4 Participants
116 participants
n=27 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Germany
45 participants
n=93 Participants
43 participants
n=4 Participants
88 participants
n=27 Participants
BMI
28 "kg per m^2"
n=93 Participants
27.4 "kg per m^2"
n=4 Participants
27.6 "kg per m^2"
n=27 Participants
Hypertension
100 Participants
n=93 Participants
99 Participants
n=4 Participants
199 Participants
n=27 Participants
Current Smoker
6 Participants
n=93 Participants
99 Participants
n=4 Participants
105 Participants
n=27 Participants
Dyslipidaemia
38 Participants
n=93 Participants
48 Participants
n=4 Participants
86 Participants
n=27 Participants
Diabetes
30 Participants
n=93 Participants
37 Participants
n=4 Participants
67 Participants
n=27 Participants
Coronary artery disease
22 Participants
n=93 Participants
23 Participants
n=4 Participants
45 Participants
n=27 Participants
Heart failure
12 Participants
n=93 Participants
6 Participants
n=4 Participants
18 Participants
n=27 Participants
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
10 Participants
n=93 Participants
22 Participants
n=4 Participants
32 Participants
n=27 Participants
Atrial fibrillation
18 Participants
n=93 Participants
17 Participants
n=4 Participants
35 Participants
n=27 Participants
Malignant disease
7 Participants
n=93 Participants
13 Participants
n=4 Participants
20 Participants
n=27 Participants
Kidney disease
16 Participants
n=93 Participants
21 Participants
n=4 Participants
37 Participants
n=27 Participants
History of stroke
8 Participants
n=93 Participants
5 Participants
n=4 Participants
13 Participants
n=27 Participants
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor
57 Participants
n=93 Participants
58 Participants
n=4 Participants
115 Participants
n=27 Participants
Angiotensin II receptor blocker
47 Participants
n=93 Participants
42 Participants
n=4 Participants
89 Participants
n=27 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 30 days

The score is calculated from six different components, each of which reflects the status of an organ system, including respiratory function, cardiovascular integrity, liver function, coagulation, renal function and neurological status. The score can range from 0 (best) to 24 (worst). In case of death, the patient was by definition assigned the maximum value of 24. Outpatients were assigned a value of 0 or 24 (in the case of death).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Discontinuation Group
n=104 Participants
Discontinuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Continuation Group
n=100 Participants
Continuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Composite of the Maximum Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score and Death Within 30 Days
0 score on a scale
Interval 0.0 to 2.0
1 score on a scale
Interval 0.0 to 3.0

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 30 days

Composite of admission to ICU, mechanical ventilation, and death

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Discontinuation Group
n=104 Participants
Discontinuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Continuation Group
n=100 Participants
Continuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Composite of Admission to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the Use of Mechanical Ventilation, or All-cause Death
21 Participants
26 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 30 days

minimum score is 0, maximum score is 24; higher score indicates poor outcome (death-adjusted)

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Discontinuation Group
n=104 Participants
Discontinuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Continuation Group
n=100 Participants
Continuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Mean of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score
0 score on a scale
Interval 0.0 to 0.31
0.12 score on a scale
Interval 0.0 to 0.78

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 30 days

Number of Participants with Non-invasive Ventilation

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Discontinuation Group
n=104 Participants
Discontinuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Continuation Group
n=100 Participants
Continuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Rates of Non-invasive Ventilation
19 Participants
14 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 30 days

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Discontinuation Group
n=104 Participants
Discontinuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Continuation Group
n=100 Participants
Continuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Rates of Renal Replacement Therapies
0 Participants
1 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 30 days

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Discontinuation Group
n=104 Participants
Discontinuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Continuation Group
n=100 Participants
Continuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Number of Patients With Systolic/Diastolic Blood Pressure > 180/120 mmHg
7 Participants
7 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 30 days

with causal relationship to stopping of ACEI/ARB therapy

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Discontinuation Group
n=104 Participants
Discontinuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Continuation Group
n=100 Participants
Continuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Hospitalisation Due to Cardiac Decompensation
0 Participants
0 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 30 days

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Discontinuation Group
n=104 Participants
Discontinuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Continuation Group
n=100 Participants
Continuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Rates of Mechanical Ventilation
10 Participants
8 Participants

Adverse Events

Discontinuation Group

Serious events: 25 serious events
Other events: 13 other events
Deaths: 8 deaths

Continuation Group

Serious events: 28 serious events
Other events: 7 other events
Deaths: 12 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Discontinuation Group
n=104 participants at risk
Discontinuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Continuation Group
n=100 participants at risk
Continuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Worsening of respiratory function
20.2%
21/104 • 30 days
24.0%
24/100 • 30 days
Cardiac disorders
Ischemic events
0.00%
0/104 • 30 days
2.0%
2/100 • 30 days
Renal and urinary disorders
Urinary tract infection
0.96%
1/104 • 30 days
0.00%
0/100 • 30 days
Cardiac disorders
Ventricular tachycardia
0.96%
1/104 • 30 days
0.00%
0/100 • 30 days
Infections and infestations
Worsening of general condition
1.9%
2/104 • 30 days
2.0%
2/100 • 30 days

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Discontinuation Group
n=104 participants at risk
Discontinuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Continuation Group
n=100 participants at risk
Continuation of ACEI or ARB therapy
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Worsening of respiratory function
4.8%
5/104 • 30 days
2.0%
2/100 • 30 days
Renal and urinary disorders
Urinary tract infection
1.9%
2/104 • 30 days
0.00%
0/100 • 30 days
Renal and urinary disorders
Elevation of creatinine
0.00%
0/104 • 30 days
1.0%
1/100 • 30 days
Vascular disorders
Hypertension
1.9%
2/104 • 30 days
2.0%
2/100 • 30 days
Infections and infestations
Worsening of general condition
3.8%
4/104 • 30 days
2.0%
2/100 • 30 days

Additional Information

Prof. Dr. Axel Bauer

Medizinische Universität Innsbruck/ Medical University Innsbruck

Phone: 0043 512 504 25621

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place