Risk factors for renal impairment in primary aldosteronism: a retrospective study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with renal impairment among patients diagnosed with primary aldosteronism (PA).MethodsThis study enrolled 147 PA patients who were initially classified into hypokalemic (n=56) and normokalemic (n=91) groups according to serum potas...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shuitao Qin, Jianling Li, Siying Wu, Sen Li, Jing Huang, Jie Yu, Chaoping Wei, Lixia Wei, Shuangbei Zhu, Shanshan Chen, Meilan Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Endocrinology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1606182/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849396129121173504
author Shuitao Qin
Jianling Li
Siying Wu
Sen Li
Jing Huang
Jie Yu
Chaoping Wei
Lixia Wei
Shuangbei Zhu
Shanshan Chen
Meilan Chen
author_facet Shuitao Qin
Jianling Li
Siying Wu
Sen Li
Jing Huang
Jie Yu
Chaoping Wei
Lixia Wei
Shuangbei Zhu
Shanshan Chen
Meilan Chen
author_sort Shuitao Qin
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with renal impairment among patients diagnosed with primary aldosteronism (PA).MethodsThis study enrolled 147 PA patients who were initially classified into hypokalemic (n=56) and normokalemic (n=91) groups according to serum potassium levels, followed by subgroup stratification using combined adrenal venous sampling (AVS) and computed tomography (CT) diagnostic data. For comparison, 280 patients diagnosed with essential hypertension (EH) served as the control group. Data on general patient characteristics and biochemical markers from blood and urine samples were collected. The analysis involved comparing these indicators across groups and performing binary logistic regression to identify potential risk factors for renal damage.ResultsWhen compared to the EH group, the PA group had lower serum potassium and heart rate (P < 0.05), but higher diabetes prevalence, standing plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), serum sodium, albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), and 24-hour urinary potassium excretion (P < 0.05). Among PA patients, the hypokalemic subgroup showed higher systolic/diastolic blood pressures, PAC, serum sodium, 24-hour urinary potassium, microalbumin, and ACR versus the normokalemic subgroup (P < 0.05). Compared with the IHA subgroup, the APA subgroup showed significantly higher standing PAC levels (P < 0.05). The classic APA subgroup exhibited elevated 24-hour urinary microprotein, ACR values, and hypokalemia prevalence relative to non-classic unilateral cases (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences emerged between unilateral and bilateral aldosterone secretion groups for serum potassium, PAC levels, or renal damage markers (P>0.05). Hypokalemia (OR=3.027) and urinary potassium (OR=1.052) predicted proteinuria (P<0.05).ConclusionThis study demonstrates that renal impairment is more pronounced in PA patients than in those with EH. Notably, the classic APA subtype exhibits particularly severe damage, specifically manifested by elevated urinary microalbumin excretion. Furthermore, concomitant hypokalemia in PA patients is associated with more severe renal impairment. Hypokalemia and increased 24-hour urinary potassium excretion emerge as key risk factors for renal damage within this patient population.
format Article
id doaj-art-072efc0f04cf43d7853cc70a16e313f0
institution Kabale University
issn 1664-2392
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Endocrinology
spelling doaj-art-072efc0f04cf43d7853cc70a16e313f02025-08-20T03:39:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-08-011610.3389/fendo.2025.16061821606182Risk factors for renal impairment in primary aldosteronism: a retrospective studyShuitao QinJianling LiSiying WuSen LiJing HuangJie YuChaoping WeiLixia WeiShuangbei ZhuShanshan ChenMeilan ChenObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with renal impairment among patients diagnosed with primary aldosteronism (PA).MethodsThis study enrolled 147 PA patients who were initially classified into hypokalemic (n=56) and normokalemic (n=91) groups according to serum potassium levels, followed by subgroup stratification using combined adrenal venous sampling (AVS) and computed tomography (CT) diagnostic data. For comparison, 280 patients diagnosed with essential hypertension (EH) served as the control group. Data on general patient characteristics and biochemical markers from blood and urine samples were collected. The analysis involved comparing these indicators across groups and performing binary logistic regression to identify potential risk factors for renal damage.ResultsWhen compared to the EH group, the PA group had lower serum potassium and heart rate (P < 0.05), but higher diabetes prevalence, standing plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), serum sodium, albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), and 24-hour urinary potassium excretion (P < 0.05). Among PA patients, the hypokalemic subgroup showed higher systolic/diastolic blood pressures, PAC, serum sodium, 24-hour urinary potassium, microalbumin, and ACR versus the normokalemic subgroup (P < 0.05). Compared with the IHA subgroup, the APA subgroup showed significantly higher standing PAC levels (P < 0.05). The classic APA subgroup exhibited elevated 24-hour urinary microprotein, ACR values, and hypokalemia prevalence relative to non-classic unilateral cases (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences emerged between unilateral and bilateral aldosterone secretion groups for serum potassium, PAC levels, or renal damage markers (P>0.05). Hypokalemia (OR=3.027) and urinary potassium (OR=1.052) predicted proteinuria (P<0.05).ConclusionThis study demonstrates that renal impairment is more pronounced in PA patients than in those with EH. Notably, the classic APA subtype exhibits particularly severe damage, specifically manifested by elevated urinary microalbumin excretion. Furthermore, concomitant hypokalemia in PA patients is associated with more severe renal impairment. Hypokalemia and increased 24-hour urinary potassium excretion emerge as key risk factors for renal damage within this patient population.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1606182/fullprimary aldosteronismrenal damagehypokalemia24-hour urinary potassiumhypertension
spellingShingle Shuitao Qin
Jianling Li
Siying Wu
Sen Li
Jing Huang
Jie Yu
Chaoping Wei
Lixia Wei
Shuangbei Zhu
Shanshan Chen
Meilan Chen
Risk factors for renal impairment in primary aldosteronism: a retrospective study
Frontiers in Endocrinology
primary aldosteronism
renal damage
hypokalemia
24-hour urinary potassium
hypertension
title Risk factors for renal impairment in primary aldosteronism: a retrospective study
title_full Risk factors for renal impairment in primary aldosteronism: a retrospective study
title_fullStr Risk factors for renal impairment in primary aldosteronism: a retrospective study
title_full_unstemmed Risk factors for renal impairment in primary aldosteronism: a retrospective study
title_short Risk factors for renal impairment in primary aldosteronism: a retrospective study
title_sort risk factors for renal impairment in primary aldosteronism a retrospective study
topic primary aldosteronism
renal damage
hypokalemia
24-hour urinary potassium
hypertension
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1606182/full
work_keys_str_mv AT shuitaoqin riskfactorsforrenalimpairmentinprimaryaldosteronismaretrospectivestudy
AT jianlingli riskfactorsforrenalimpairmentinprimaryaldosteronismaretrospectivestudy
AT siyingwu riskfactorsforrenalimpairmentinprimaryaldosteronismaretrospectivestudy
AT senli riskfactorsforrenalimpairmentinprimaryaldosteronismaretrospectivestudy
AT jinghuang riskfactorsforrenalimpairmentinprimaryaldosteronismaretrospectivestudy
AT jieyu riskfactorsforrenalimpairmentinprimaryaldosteronismaretrospectivestudy
AT chaopingwei riskfactorsforrenalimpairmentinprimaryaldosteronismaretrospectivestudy
AT lixiawei riskfactorsforrenalimpairmentinprimaryaldosteronismaretrospectivestudy
AT shuangbeizhu riskfactorsforrenalimpairmentinprimaryaldosteronismaretrospectivestudy
AT shanshanchen riskfactorsforrenalimpairmentinprimaryaldosteronismaretrospectivestudy
AT meilanchen riskfactorsforrenalimpairmentinprimaryaldosteronismaretrospectivestudy