Hypertension

Secondary hypertension common among young adults

November 15, 2024

The prevalence of secondary hypertension (2HTN) was 29.6% among young patients with hypertension in this cohort, regardless of age and BP level.

This cross-sectional study included patients between the ages of 18 and 40 years with confirmed hypertension who underwent a full workup for 2HTN screening.

Among 2,090 patients, 619 (29.6%) had 2HTN. The most frequent diagnoses of 2HTN in descending order were:

• primary aldosteronism: n = 339; 54.8%
• renovascular hypertension: n = 114; 18.4%
• primary kidney disease: n = 80; 12.9%
• pheochromocytoma/functional paraganglioma: n = 37; 5.9%
• hypertension caused by drugs or substance: n = 32; 6.0%
• other diagnoses: n = 17; 2.7%

Patients with BP <160/100 mm Hg didn’t have a lower prevalence of 2HTN regardless of number of treatments. Prevalence of 2HTN was higher in the decade between 30 and 40 years of age vs. 18 to 30 years of age (P = 0.024).

Factors associated with a higher prevalence of 2HTN were:

• female sex
• hypokalemia
• treatment with ≥2 medications
• no familial history of hypertension
• BMI <25 kg/m^2

Source:

de Freminville JB, et al. (2024, September 19). Hypertension. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Secondary Hypertension in Young Adults. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39297209/