Cardiovascular complications in patients with primary hyperaldosteronism

Objective. Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a common reason of secondary arterial hypertension (HTN) and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications, chronic kidney disease and mortality. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of cardiovascular complications in patients with PA and HTN and show the peculiarities of cardiovascular system involvement in hyperaldosteronism. Design and methods. We included 191 (77,0  %) females and 57 (23,0  %) males with suspected PA aged from 19 to 86 years old. Other reasons for secondary HTN were excluded. Diagnosis of PA was based on Endocrine Society recommendations (2009). Results. PA diagnosis was confirmed in 41 (16,5  %) subjects. Systolic blood pressure was higherin patients with PA than in patients with essential hypertension, but diastolic blood pressure did not differ. Microalbuminuria was found in 61,0  % of patients with PA and only in 41,6  % of hypertensive subjects (р < 0,05). Study showed that prevalence of stroke, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction as well as arrhythmia were the same in both patients’ group. On the other hand, 29,3  % with PA had chronic heart disease compared to only 12,0  % among patients with essential HTN (p < 0,05). Conclusions. We showed that HTN associated with autonomic aldosterone production leads to more frequent cardiovascular complications. Hence, early PA diagnosis and treatment is an important approach of modern medicine.

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