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Fat mass as an important predictor of persistent hypertension in patients with primary aldosteronism after adrenalectomy

A Comment to this article was published on 10 April 2023

Abstract

Aldosterone excess is present in obesity and is associated with involvement in the pathogenesis of obesity. We evaluate the impact of body obesity as measured by body composition monitor (BCM) on clinical outcomes in patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism (uPA) after adrenalectomy. The BCM device was used to assess body composition before and after adrenalectomy. We used fat mass (FM) and body mass index (BMI) to classify obesity and divided obesity into three groups: clinical overweight (BMI (kg/m2) ≥25); normal weight obesity (NWO, FM (%) ≥ 35 for women, >25 for men & BMI < 25); and no obesity (FM < 35 for women, <25 for men & BMI < 25). A total of 130 unilateral PA (uPA) patients received adrenalectomy, and 27 EH patients were identified; uPA patients with hypertension remission were found to have lower FM (p = 0.046), BMI (p < 0.001), and lower prevalence of overweight (p = 0.001). In the logistic regression model, patients with clinical overweight (OR = 2.9, p = 0.007), NWO (OR = 3.04, p = 0.041) and longer HTN duration (years, OR = 1.065, p = 0.013) were at the risk of persistent hypertension after adrenalectomy. Obesity status was strongly associated with persistent hypertension in uPA patients after adrenalectomy. However, patients in the NWO group also carried higher risk of persistent hypertension. Therefore, assessment of pre-obesity and overweight in uPA patients are extremely important, especially in those who have normal BMI.

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Acknowledgements

The authors greatly appreciate the Second Core Lab in National Taiwan University Hospital for technical assistance and Member of TAIPAI group (https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.21669929).

Funding

This study was supported by Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) [grant number, MOST 107-2314-B-002-026-MY3, 108-2314-B-002-058, 110-2314-B-002-241, 110-2314-B-002-239, 111-2314-B-075-011-MY3], National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) [grant number, NSTC 109-2314-B-002-174-MY3, 110-2314-B-002-124-MY3, 111-2314-B-002-046, 111-2314-B-002-058], National Health Research Institutes [PH-102-SP-09], National Taiwan University Hospital [109-S4634, PC-1246, PC-1309, VN109-09, UN109-041, UN110-030, 111-FTN0011] Grant MOHW 110-TDU-B-212-124005 and Mrs Hsiu-Chin Lee Kidney Research Fund. (https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.21670460) The funds played no role in the design or conduct of the study, in the collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data, nor in the preparation, review, or approval of the paper.

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WCH drafted the paper and collected data. V-CW provided the original concept and design of the study, critically modified the statistical models, and provided technical and statistical support during the analyses. All the authors interpreted and had full access to the data, critically revised the paper, and approved the final paper.

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Correspondence to Vin-Cent Wu.

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Huang, WC., Chen, YY., Yang, SY. et al. Fat mass as an important predictor of persistent hypertension in patients with primary aldosteronism after adrenalectomy. Hypertens Res 46, 1375–1384 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-023-01203-3

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