LAUSR

Objectives: A number of studies have reported that chronic aldosterone increases cause cardiomyocyte fibrosis, ventricular remodeling, and conduction disturbances.The aim of this study is to investigate the changes of cardiac structure and prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). Methods: 78 PA patients and 280 essential hypertensives hospitalized in our center who completed both of echocardiography and 24-hour Holter electrocardiography were recruited. Age, gender, duration of hypertension and body mass index (BMI) were matched. Results: The left atrial diameter of PA group was significantly larger than that of EH group (36.86 ± 4.54VS35.37 ± 3.98, P = 0.005). The thickness of interventricular septum was more thicker than the EH group (10.91 ± 1.16VS10.41 ± 1.15, P = 0.001). Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was higher than EH group, but no significance (LVMI: 103.25 ± 23.42VS98.16 ± 21.59, P = 0.072). (2) All kinds of arrhythmia detection rate has increased in PA group compared to the EH group, and complex arrhythmias phenotypes were more frequent in PA patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that PA, older age and coronary heart disease increased the risk of cardiac arrhythmias. Conclusion: Changes in cardiac structure and cardiac arrhythmias in patients with PA are more severe than those with EH.