Blood pressure medication does not increase COVID-19 risk: Research WASHINGTON: Commonly used blood pressure medicines do not increase the likelihood of catching the COVID-19 infection, or increase the risk of becoming seriously ill with the disease, three major studies said Friday. The research primarily concerned angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), which are also given to diabetes patients to help protect their kidneys. Confusing matters further, there were also contradictory animal studies that showed having more ACE2 proteins might lessen an inflammatory reaction in lungs to COVID-19, a beneficial effect. The three new studies were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Each involved reviewing the records of thousands of people either on or not on the medicines and seeing if they got infected and how the disease progressed. They then used statistical methods to control for other factors like und...