DEFINITION, PREVALENCE & ETIOLOGY
DEFINITION
Primary (essential) hypertension: the most common type
Secondary hypertension: due to the underlying cause
PREVALENCE
Increases with age
More common in males
50-30% experience white coat syndrome
ETIOLOGY
Primary: essential/idiopathic Secondary causes:
- Renal: CKD (most common, may also result in hypertension), chronic pyelonephritis, diabetic nephropathy, glomerulonephritis, renal cell carcinoma
- Vascular: renal artery stenosis (Increased plasma renin, PVD + abdominal bruit, blood pressure resistant to treatment), coarctation of the aorta (unilateral hypertension, weak femoral pulse, radio-femoral delay)
- Endocrine: primary hyperaldosteronism, phaeochromocytoma, Cushing’s syndrome, acromegaly, hyperthyroidism
- Medications: COCP, HRT, NSAIDs, EPO, cocaine, alcohol, sympathomimetics, betaagonists, corticosteroids
- Other: connective tissue disorders, pregnancy, obstructive sleep apnoea