Morbidity and mortality risk among patients with screening-detected severe hypertension in the Malmö Preventive Project.

Objective: Screening of hypertension has been advocated for early detection and treatment. Severe hypertension (grade 3 hypertension) is a strong predictor for cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to evaluate not only the risk factors for developing severe hypertension, but also the prospective morbidity and mortality risk associated with severe hypertension in a population-based screening and intervention programme.

Family history as a predictor of hospitalization for hypertension in Sweden.

Objective: Hypertension clusters in families. However, no nationwide study has investigated the family history as a predictor of hospitalization for hypertension, which was the purpose of this study.

Research Design And Methods: The study is a nationwide follow-up study.

Primary aldosteronism among newly diagnosed and untreated hypertensive patients in a Swedish primary care area.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of primary aldosteronism (PA) in newly diagnosed and untreated hypertensive patients in primary care using the aldosterone/renin ratio (ARR), and to assess clinical and biochemical characteristics in patients with high and normal ARR.

Design: Patient survey study.

Setting And Subjects: A total of 200 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed and untreated hypertension from six primary health care centres in Sweden were included.

Captopril suppression: limitations for confirmation of primary aldosteronism.

Introduction: The aldosterone/renin ratio (ARR) is the first line screening test for primary aldosteronism (PA). However, in hypertensive patients with an increased ARR, PA needs to be confirmed by other means.

Methods: A 25 mg oral captopril test was performed in 16 healthy subjects to obtain reference values for aldosterone and ARR at 120 minutes after the test.

Re-evaluation of the fludrocortisone test: duration, NaCl supplementation and cut-off limits for aldosterone.

Objective: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common form of secondary hypertension. Thus, the aims of this study were: (1) to clarify whether the fludrocortisone suppression test (FST), which confirms autonomous aldosterone secretion, is reliable when carried out during a shorter period of time and (2) to confirm the importance of NaCl supplementation. The cut-off limits already obtained for aldosterone in healthy subjects during the FST were applied in hypertensive patients with a high aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR).

High frequency of primary hyperaldosteronism among hypertensive patients from a primary care area in Sweden.

Objective: To search for primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA) among previously known hypertensive patients in primary care, using the aldosterone/renin ratio (ARR), and to evaluate clinical and biochemical characteristics in patients with high or normal ratio.

Design: Patient survey study.

Setting And Subjects: The study population was recruited by written invitation among hypertensive patients in two primary care areas in Sweden.