Diabetes mellitus itself increases cardio- cerebrovascular risk and renal complications in primary aldosteronism

Context: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) is higher than in those with essential hypertension and the general population. Although DM is a common major risk factor for cardio-cerebrovascular (CCV) diseases and renal complications, details of its effects in PA have not been demonstrated. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of coexistent DM on the risk of CCV events and progression of renal complications in PA patients. Design: A multi-institutional, cross-sectional study was conducted. Patients and Methods: PA patients experienced between January 2006 and October 2016 and with available data of CCV events and DM were enrolled from the Japan PA registry of the Japan Primary Aldosteronism Study/Japan Rare Intractable Adrenal Diseases Study (n = 2524). CCV events and renal complications were compared between a DM group and a non-DM group by logistic and liner-regression analysis. Results: DM significantly increased the odds ratio (OR) of CCV events (OR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.05- 2.41) and that of proteinuria (OR 2.25, 95% CI: 1.59-3.16). DM correlated significantly with declines in estimated glomerular filtration rate (β = .05, P = .02). Conclusions: This the first report to demonstrate the presence of DM as an independent risk factor for CCV events and renal complications, even in PA patients. Management of DM should be considered in addition to the specific treatment of PA.