The study is intended to assess, in a pilot study, the effect of telmisartan in mitigating the severity of COVID-19 related disease in hospitalized patients. Data on clinical course and lab values will be passively abstracted from Queen's standard of care evaluations on COVID-19 in-patients. Participants will be monitored closely as an outpatient if/when discharged prior to day 21. The only study-specific procedure will be a blood draw of ten (10) cc to be collected for research purposes at entry and at day 4 and day 21 of study for the evaluation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) system and for various blood biomarkers of organ function/coagulation, inflammation, leukocyte chemotaxis, tissue remodeling/fibrosis and immune exhaustion.
This study will enroll 40 inpatients hospitalized for COVID-19 at Queens' Medical Center. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to Telmisartan (80 mg) vs placebo to be administered orally once daily x 21 days.