Simulated COVID-19 outcome for normotensive patients, hypertensive (HTN) patients with an existing mild inflammation, and HTN patients with a more severe inflammation.

ACEi, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ARB, angiotensin II receptor blocker. In the “ACEi” column, “Yes” corresponds to full effect of ACEi, i.e., reduced conversion rate from Ang I to Ang II and upregulation of ACE2; “w/o ACE2 ↑” and “ACE2 ↑ only 50%” represent only the reduced Ang I-to-Ang II conversion rate, with ACE2 level kept at baseline or 2.5-fold increase, respectively; “Half dose” represents half the ACEi effect, in both Ang I-to-Ang II conversion and ACE2 upregulation. Labels under the “ARB” column are defined analogously.