Practice | Five things to know about ... - Screening for primary aldosteronism in primary care

Prevalence and clin- Although most patients with PA are normokalemic, hypokalemia (either ical manifestations of primary aldosteronism encountered in primary care practice. [...] About 30% of patients with hypokalemia and for primary aldosteronism among individuals with hyperten- hypertension seen in primary care have PA,1 yet less than 5% of sion plus hypokalemia: a population-based retrospective patients with hypertension and recurrent hypokalemia were screened cohort study. [...] The prevalence of PA in patients with hypertension in primary care is at 5. [...] apy or surgery, patients with PA are at a disproportionately higher risk of cardiometabolic disease than matched controls with essential hyperten- sion.4 Early diagnosis and targeted treatment are necessary to prevent the detrimental effects of hyperaldosteronism.3 Competing interests: Gregory Hundemer received grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Kidney Foundation of Can. [...] or family history of PA), should be screened for PA with the aldosterone- Affiliations: Division of Nephrology (Dubrofsky), to-renin ratio.4,5 Department of Medicine, Women’s College Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, 4 Most antihypertensive medications can be continued during Ont.; Division of Nephrology (Hundemer), Depart-the work-up for PA ment of Medicine, and Ottaw.