Primary aldosteronism in elderly, old, and very old patients

J Hum Hypertens. 2020 Dec;34(12):807-813. doi: 10.1038/s41371-020-00395-2. Epub 2020 Sep 14.

Abstract

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is common, but usually overlooked in the elderly, old, and very old patients in whom the already high absolute risk of cardiovascular events, particularly atrial fibrillation, can be further increased by PA. Although in the last two decades there has been an explosion of studies devoted to diagnosis, subtyping, and treatment of PA, only relatively scant investigation has addressed these topics in patients older than 65 years of age. This narrative review fills a gap of information on the challenges of diagnosing and managing the PA patients who are 65 years old and older with particular attention to the benefit/risk ratio of pursuing the diagnosis in this cohort, which is markedly expanding owing to ageing of the population worldwide.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Atrial Fibrillation*
  • Humans
  • Hyperaldosteronism* / diagnosis
  • Hyperaldosteronism* / epidemiology
  • Hyperaldosteronism* / therapy
  • Hypertension*