Low plasma renin activity and high aldosterone/renin ratio are associated with untreated isolated systolic hypertension

Figures & data

Table I. Demographic and laboratory characteristics of study groups.

	ISH (n =42)	EHT (n =30)	Controls (n =29)	p
Age (years)	62 (54–67)	60 (57–63)	57 (52–65)	0.3
Sex (M/F)	18/24	11/19	17/12	0.2
Smoking (%)	42	41	30	0.5
Diabetes mellitus (%)	28	17	36	0.2
Hyperlipidemia (%)	56	51	54	0.9
Waist circumference (cm)	92 (84–104)	93 (88–110)	95 (85–103)	0.9
Fasting blood sugar (mg/dl)	97 (92–122)	110 (90–135)	90 (94–106)	0.1
LDL-cholesterol (mg/dl)	130 (110–142)	109 (90–160)	114 (85–152)	0.2
HDL-cholesterol (mg/dl)	44 (40–52)	40 (36–49)	43 (39–52)	0.3
Triglyceride (mg/dl)	155 (144–188)	155 (147–185)	135 (108–161)	0.2
Creatinine (mg/dl)	0.8 (0.7–0.95)	0.88 (0.66–0.9)	0.78 (0.7–0.9)	0.8
Sodium (mEq/l)	141.5 (140–143)	141 (139–142)	141 (139–142)	0.3
Potassium (mEq/l)	4.5 (4.2–4.7)	4.4 (4.2–4.6)	4.5 (4.2–4.8)	0.3
Uric acid (mg/dl)	5 (4.4–5.4)	5.1 (4.7–5.5)	4.7 (3.4–5.4)	0.3
Hemoglobin (g/dl)	14 (13–15)	14.4 (13–14.6)	14.4 (13–15.6)	0.3
High sensitive-CRP	1.05 (0.12–2.4)	0.4 (0.08–1.7)	1.02 (0.3–3)	0.1
TSH (µU/ml)	1.4 (0.9–2.1)	1.5 (1.2–2.4)	1.8 (1.1–2.4)

Data are presented as median (interquartile range) for parametric variables. ISH, isolated systolic hypertension; EHT, essential hypertension; M, male; F, female; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; CRP, C-reactive protein; TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone.

Table II. Blood pressure and plasma renin activity, aldosterone parameters.

	ISH (n=42)	EHT (n=30)	Controls (n=29)	p
Systolic BP (mmHg)	160 (150–165)	150 (145–165)	120 (115–130)	<0.001
Diastolic BP (mmHg)	80 (70–85)	100 (95–105)	80 (70–85)	<0.001
Pulse pressure (mmHg)	75 (70–80)	60 (50–65)	50 (40–55)	<0.001
PRA (ng/ml/h)	0.4 (0.2–1.1)	0.95 (0.5–2.6)	1.3 (0.7–2.1)	0.003
Aldosterone (pg/ml)	65 (38–110)	38 (35–84)	57 (35–110)	0.091
Aldosterone/PRA	134.1 (73–224)	42.2 (35–84)	53.3 (30–106)	<0.001

ISH, isolated systolic hypertension; EHT, essential hypertension; BP, blood pressure; PRA, plasma renin activity.

Figure 1. Box plots showing plasma renin activity of each group. The boxes show interquartile range (25th–75th percentiles), the central lines represent the median, and I bars represent the range.

Figure 2. Box plots showing aldosterone/plasma renin activity of each group. The boxes show interquartile range (25th–75th percentiles), the central lines represent the median, and I bars represent the range.