Dataset Information

Testing for Primary Aldosteronism and Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Use Among U.S. Veterans : A Retrospective Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Primary aldosteronism is a common cause of treatment-resistant hypertension. However, evidence from local health systems suggests low rates of testing for primary aldosteronism.

Objective

To evaluate testing rates for primary aldosteronism and evidence-based hypertension management in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

U.S. Veterans Health Administration.

Participants

Veterans with apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (n = 269 010) from 2000 to 2017, defined as either 2 blood pressures (BPs) of at least 140 mm Hg (systolic) or 90 mm Hg (diastolic) at least 1 month apart during use of 3 antihypertensive agents (including a diuretic), or hypertension requiring 4 antihypertensive classes.

Measurements

Rates of primary aldosteronism testing (plasma aldosterone-renin) and the association of testing with evidence-based treatment using a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) and with longitudinal systolic BP.

Results

4277 (1.6%) patients who were tested for primary aldosteronism were identified. An index visit with a nephrologist (hazard ratio [HR], 2.05 [95% CI, 1.66 to 2.52]) or an endocrinologist (HR, 2.48 [CI, 1.69 to 3.63]) was associated with a higher likelihood of testing compared with primary care. Testing was associated with a 4-fold higher likelihood of initiating MRA therapy (HR, 4.10 [CI, 3.68 to 4.55]) and with better BP control over time.

Limitations

Predominantly male cohort, retrospective design, susceptibility of office BPs to misclassification, and lack of confirmatory testing for primary aldosteronism.

Conclusion

In a nationally distributed cohort of veterans with apparent treatment-resistant hypertension, testing for primary aldosteronism was rare and was associated with higher rates of evidence-based treatment with MRAs and better longitudinal BP control. The findings reinforce prior observations of low adherence to guideline-recommended practices in smaller health systems and underscore the urgent need for improved management of patients with treatment-resistant hypertension.

Primary funding source

National Institutes of Health.

SUBMITTER: Cohen JB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7965294 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Testing for Primary Aldosteronism and Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Use Among U.S. Veterans : A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Cohen Jordana B JB Cohen Debbie L DL Herman Daniel S DS Leppert John T JT Byrd James Brian JB Bhalla Vivek V

Annals of internal medicine 20201229 3

<h4>Background</h4>Primary aldosteronism is a common cause of treatment-resistant hypertension. However, evidence from local health systems suggests low rates of testing for primary aldosteronism.<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate testing rates for primary aldosteronism and evidence-based hypertension management in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension.<h4>Design</h4>Retrospective cohort study.<h4>Setting</h4>U.S. Veterans Health Administration.<h4>Participants</h4>Veterans with apparent tre ...[more]

PMID: 33370170

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Project description:BackgroundMineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists are the recommended medical therapy for primary aldosteronism. Whether this recommendation effectively reduces cardiometabolic risk is not well understood. We aimed to investigate the risk of incident cardiovascular events in patients with primary aldosteronism treated with MR antagonists compared with patients with essential hypertension.MethodsWe did a cohort study using patients from a research registry from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and their affiliated partner hospitals. We identified patients with primary aldosteronism using International Classification of Disease, 9th and 10th Revision codes, who were assessed between the years 1991-2016 and were at least 18 years of age. We excluded patients who underwent surgical adrenalectomy, had a previous cardiovascular event, were not treated with MR antagonists, or had no follow-up visits after study entry. From the same registry, we identified a population with essential hypertension that was frequency matched by decade of age at study entry. We extracted patient cohort data and collated it into a de-identified database. The primary outcome was an incident cardiovascular event, defined as a composite of incident myocardial infarction or coronary revascularisation, hospital admission with congestive heart failure, or stroke, which was assessed using adjusted Cox regression models. Secondary outcomes were the individual components of the composite cardiovascular outcome, as well as incident atrial fibrillation, incident diabetes, and death.FindingsWe identified 602 eligible patients with primary aldosteronism treated with MR antagonists and 41 853 age-matched patients with essential hypertension from the registry. The two groups of patients had comparable cardiovascular risk profiles and blood pressure throughout the study. The incidence of cardiovascular events was higher in patients with primary aldosteronism on MR antagonists than in patients with essential hypertension (56·3 [95% CI 48·8-64·7] vs 26·6 [26·1-27·2] events per 1000 person-years, adjusted hazard ratio 1·91 [95% CI 1·63-2·25]; adjusted 10-year cumulative incidence difference 14·1 [95% CI 10·1-18·0] excess events per 100 people). Patients with primary aldosteronism also had higher adjusted risks for incident mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1·34 [95% CI 1·06-1·71]), diabetes (1·26 [1·01-1·57]), and atrial fibrillation (1·93 [1·54-2·42]). Compared with essential hypertension, the excess risk for cardiovascular events and mortality was limited to patients with primary aldosteronism whose renin activity remained suppressed (<1 μg/L per h) on MR antagonists (adjusted HR [2·83 [95% CI 2·11-3·80], and 1·79 [1·14-2·80], respectively) whereas patients who were treated with higher MR antagonist doses and had unsuppressed renin (≥1 μg/L per h) had no significant excess risk.InterpretationThe current practice of MR antagonist therapy in primary aldosteronism is associated with significantly higher risk for incident cardiometabolic events and death, independent of blood pressure control, than for patients with essential hypertension. Titration of MR antagonist therapy to raise renin might mitigate this excess risk.FundingUS National Institutes of Health.

Project description:ImportancePrimary aldosteronism (PA) is an ideal condition to evaluate the role of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF).ObjectiveTo investigate whether MR antagonist therapy or surgical adrenalectomy in PA influence the risk for incident AF.DesignThis cohort study included patients aged 18 years and older. Patients with PA and age-matched patients with essential hypertension were identified via electronic health records. Patients with a history of AF, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, or stroke were excluded. Data were collected between 1991 and the end of 2016 in an academic medical center, with a mean follow-up duration of approximately 8 years.ExposuresPatients with PA treated with MR antagonists or surgical adrenalectomy were compared with patients with essential hypertension. Patients with PA who were treated with MR antagonists were categorized by whether their plasma renin activity remained suppressed (< 1 ng/mL/h) or substantially increased (≥ 1 ng/mL/h), as proxies for insufficient or sufficient MR blockade.Main outcomes and measureIncident AF.ResultsA total of 195 patients with PA who were treated with MR antagonists and 201 patients with PA treated with surgical adrenalectomy were included, as well as 40 092 age-matched patients with essential hypertension. Despite similar blood pressure at study entry and throughout follow-up, patients with PA who were treated with MR antagonists whose renin remained suppressed had a higher risk for incident AF than patients with essential hypertension (adjusted HR, 2.55 [95% CI, 1.75-3.71]). They also had an adjusted 10-year cumulative AF incidence difference of 14.1 (95% CI, 6.7-21.5) excess cases per 100 persons compared with patients with essential hypertension. In contrast, patients with PA who were treated with MR antagonists and whose renin increased and patients with PA who were treated with surgical adrenalectomy had no statistically significant difference in risk for incident AF compared with patients with essential hypertension.Conclusions and relevanceWhen compared with patients with essential hypertension, patients with PA treated with MR antagonists such that renin remained suppressed (as a proxy for insufficient MR blockade) had a significantly higher risk for incident AF; however, treatment of PA with MR antagonists to substantially increase renin (suggesting sufficient MR blockade), or with surgical adrenalectomy (to remove the source of aldosteronism), was associated with no significant difference in risk for developing AF. These findings add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that MR blockade may be a potential therapy to decrease the incidence of AF.

Project description:Background & aimsUniversal one-time antibody testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been recommended by the centers for disease control (CDC) and the United States preventative services task force (USPSTF) for Americans born 1945-1965 (birth cohort). Limited data exists addressing national HCV testing practices. We studied patterns and predictors of HCV testing across the U.S. within the birth cohort utilizing data from the national corporate data warehouse of the U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) health system.MethodsTesting was defined as any HCV test including antibody, RNA or genotype performed during 2000-2013.ResultsOf 6,669,388 birth cohort veterans, 4,221,135 (63%) received care within the VA from 2000-2013 with two or more visits. Of this group, 2,139,935 (51%) had HCV testing with 8.1% HCV antibody and 5.4% RNA positive. Significant variation in testing was observed across centers (range: 7-83%). Older, male, African-Americans, with established risk factors and receiving care from urban centers of excellence were more likely to be tested. Among veterans free of other established risk factors (HIV negative, HBV negative, ALT ⩽40U/L, FIB-4 ⩽1.45, or APRI <0.5), HCV antibody and RNA were positive in 2.8% and 0.9%, respectively, comparable to established national average. At least 2.4-4.4% of veterans had scores suggesting advanced fibrosis (APRI ⩾1.5 or FIB-4 >3.25) with >30-43% having positive HCV RNA but >16-20% yet to undergo testing for HCV.ConclusionsSignificant disparities are observed in HCV testing within the United States VA health system. Examination of the predictors of testing and HCV positivity may help inform national screening policies.Lay summaryAnalysis of United States Veterans Administration data show significant disparities in hepatitis C virus testing of veterans born 1945-1965 (birth cohort). A fifth of those not tested had evidence of advanced liver fibrosis. Our data suggests some predictors for this disparity and will potentially help inform future policy measures in the era of universal birth cohort testing for HCV.

Dataset Information

Testing for Primary Aldosteronism and Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Use Among U.S. Veterans : A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background

Objective

Design

Setting

Participants

Measurements

Results

Limitations

Conclusion

Primary funding source

Publications

Testing for Primary Aldosteronism and Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Use Among U.S. Veterans : A Retrospective Cohort Study.

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