Positive relationship of sleep apnea to hyperaldosteronism in an ethnically diverse population.

Objective: Approximately, 50-60% of patients with sleep apnea have hypertension. To explore a mechanism of this relationship, we compared its prevalence in a hypertensive population with and without hyperaldosteronism.

Methods: Using the Kaiser Permanente Southern California database, hypertensive individuals who had plasma aldosterone and plasma renin activity measured between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2007 were evaluated.