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Alzheimers Dement
. 2022 Apr 4.
doi: 10.1002/alz.12665. Online ahead of print.
Clinical outcomes of COVID-19 infection among patients with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment
Ying Wang 1 2 , Mingfei Li 2 3 , Lewis E Kazis 3 4 5 6 , Weiming Xia 1 7
Affiliations
- PMID: 35377523
- DOI: 10.1002/alz.12665
Abstract
Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and COVID-19 share common risk factors including hypertension. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) are frequently prescribed antihypertension medications.
Methods: This study analyzed 436,823 veterans tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection. We conducted both classical and propensity score weighted logistic models to compare COVID-19 outcomes between patients with AD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to those without cognitive impairment, and examined effect of ACEI/ARB prescription.
Results: There was a statistically significant association between AD and increased odds of infection and mortality. MCI was not found to be a risk factor for infection. Subjects with MCI exhibited poor clinical outcomes. Prescribing ARBs but not ACEIs was significantly associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 occurrence among AD and MCI patients.
Discussion: Exploring beneficial effects of existing medications to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on patients with AD or MCI is highly significant.
Highlights: There is significant association between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and increased risk of COVID-19 infection and odds of mortality. Subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) defined by claims data exhibit poor clinical outcomes, but MCI was not found to be a risk factor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Prescribing angiotensin II receptor blockers was significantly associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 occurrence among AD/MCI patients.
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; COVID-19; angiotensin II receptor blockers; angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors; mild cognitive impairment; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
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