Demographic, clinical and biochemical characteristics of overall sample, patients with PA, and patients with EH
| Overall sample (n=261) | Patients with PA (n=128) | Patients with EH (n=133) | Comparison (PA vs EH) | |
| Age, mean (SD) years | 52.5 (12.8) | 53.7 (11.7) | 51.2 (13.8) | p=0.12 |
| Female, n (%) | 148 (56.7) | 67 (52.3) | 81 (60.9) | p=0.16 |
| Caucasian ethnicity, n (%) | 149 (66.8) | 74 (57.8) | 75 (56.4) | p=0.82 |
| Current smoking, n (%) | 19 (7.3) | 11 (8.6) | 8 (6.0) | p=0.42 |
| BMI, median (IQR) kg/m² | 28.7 (25.7–33.1) | 28.6 (25.6–32.7) | 28.9 (25.8–33.2) | p=0.69 |
| Systolic blood pressure, median (IQR) | 148 (134–160) | 148 (136–160) | 147 (134–160) | p=0.36 |
| Diastolic blood pressure, median (IQR) | 91 (84–98) | 92 (85–100) | 90 (82–96) | p=0.09 |
| Number of antihypertensive medications used, median (IQR) | 1 (0–2) | 2 (1–3) | 1 (0–1) | p<0.001 |
| Number using any antihypertensive medication/s, n (%) | 167 (64.0) | 98 (76.6) | 69 (51.9) | p<0.001 |
| Left ventricular hypertrophy on ECG, n (%) | 12/75 (16) | 9/54 (16.7) | 3/21 (14.3) | p=0.08 |
| History of hypercholesterolaemia, n (%) | 56 (21.5) | 32 (25.0) | 24 (18.0) | p=0.17 |
| History of type 2 diabetes mellitus, n (%) | 24 (9.2) | 18 (14.1) | 6 (4.5) | p=0.008 |
| Family history of CAD, n (%) | 12 (4.6) | 6 (4.7) | 6 (4.5) | p=0.95 |
| Aldosterone, median (IQR) pmol/L | 411 (278–584) | 524 (403–738) | 329 (219–444) | p<0.001 |
| Renin, median (IQR), mIU/L | 5.7 (2.7–15.6) | 4.0 (2.0–5.4) | 13.8 (5.4–23.3) | p<0.001 |
| Aldosterone/renin ratio, median (IQR) (pmol/L)/(mIU/L) | 87.9 (23.9–145.7) | 129.1 (92.8–200.5) | 24.3 (13.8–54.8) | p<0.001 |
| Potassium, median (IQR) | 4.2 (3.9–4.5) | 4.1 (3.7–4.3) | 4.4 (4.2–4.6) | p<0.001 |
| eGFR, median (IQR) mL/min/1.73 m2 | 90 (79–90) | 90 (79–90) | 90 (80–90) | p=0.34 |
| Total cholesterol, mean (SD) | 5.20 (1.04) | 5.18 (0.99) | 5.22 (1.08) | p=0.75 |
| HDL, median (IQR) | 1.39 (1.10–1.70) | 1.34 (1.10–1.70) | 1.40 (1.17–1.70) | p=0.49 |
| LDL, mean (SD) | 3.10 (0.87) | 3.09 (0.82) | 3.10 (0.92) | p=0.95 |
| Triglycerides, median (IQR) | 1.30 (0.90–1.75) | 1.42 (0.90–1.70) | 1.30 (0.90–1.80) | p=0.87 |
Data was missing for aldosterone and renin (one patient), and LDL and triglycerides (two patients). Percentages expressed are relative to the group described in the column (overall sample, patients with PA or patients with EH).
BMI, body mass index; CAD, coronary artery disease; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; EH, essential hypertension; HDL, high density lipoprotein; LDL, low density lipoprotein; PA, primary aldosteronism; T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus.