Hypertension Among Patients Younger than 40 Years: An Endocrine Point of View

Background and objectives: Hypertension is common among older adults and the elderly, but some studies also reported data on young adults. The aim of this study is to diagnose the endocrine causes of secondary hypertension among younger adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 100 outpatients with hypertension from Endocrine and Internal Medicine Consultation Rooms, Shar Teaching Hospital, Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, from January 2023 to December 2023. Data was collected from patients with secondary hypertension using a questionnaire by face-to-face interviews during their hospital visits. Then, blood samples were collected to determine hematological parameters, kidney function tests, blood electrolytes, lipid profiles, hormones, and vitamin D levels. Results: Most patients (68%) aged >30 years, females (56%), overweight (51%), visited the hospital as outpatient due to a headache (58%), had no clinical finding (81%), smoking history (83%), family history of hypertension (53%), positive past medical history (90%) and positive past surgical history (92%). The mean systolic/diastolic blood pressures were high (99.64 ± 10.82/158.12 ± 20.74 mmHg). Mean hematological parameters, kidney function tests, electrolytes, lipid profiles, hormones, and vitamin D3 levels were observed. Most patients had negative dexamethasone suppression test (19%), essential hypertension (54%) with normal general urine examination (96%), abdominal ultrasound (72.05%), abdominal Computed Tomography (41%), Doppler investigations (90%), and Echocardiogram (57%). Conclusions: Hypertension is a primary health issue among young adults that is mainly caused by endocrine disorders such as thyroid problems and primary hyperaldosteronism.