[Prevalence of primary aldosteronism in hypertensive patients and its effect on the heart]

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Published on: September 15, 2017

Pedro Morillas1, Jesús Castillo, Juan Quiles

  • 1Unidad de Hipertensión Arterial, Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario San Juan, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, España. pedromorillas@teleline.es

Revista Espanola De Cardiologia
|April 15, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA) significantly contributes to hypertension and cardiac damage. This study found 6% of hypertensive patients had PHA, showing greater left ventricular hypertrophy and mass compared to other hypertensive groups.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Hypertension Research

Context:

  • Primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA) is increasingly recognized as a cause of secondary hypertension.
  • Cardiovascular complications are a significant concern in hypertensive patients.

Purpose:

  • To determine the prevalence of PHA in a cohort of hypertensive patients.
  • To assess the cardiac damage associated with PHA compared to other forms of hypertension.

Summary:

  • 183 hypertensive patients underwent a secondary hypertension work-up, including ECG and echocardiography.
  • 11 patients (6%) were diagnosed with PHA.
  • PHA patients exhibited higher systolic blood pressure, increased left ventricular hypertrophy on ECG (45.5% vs 11.6%), and greater left ventricular mass (145.5 g/m² vs 97.52 g/m²) compared to non-PHA hypertensives.

Impact:

  • PHA is a significant, often undiagnosed, contributor to hypertension prevalence.
  • PHA is associated with more severe cardiac damage, specifically left ventricular hypertrophy and increased mass, than other hypertensive causes.
  • Highlights the importance of screening for PHA in hypertensive individuals to mitigate cardiovascular risk.

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