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Diagnosis of Secondary Hypertension: An Age-Based

Approach
Table 3.
Most Common Causes of Secondary Hypertension by Age*
AGE GROUPS

Children (birth to 12
years)

PERCENTAGE OF HYPERTENSION WITH AN

UNDERLYING CAUSE

MOST COMMON
ETIOLOGIES

70 to 85

Renal parenchymal
disease
Coarctation of the aorta

Adolescents (12 to 18
years)

10 to 15

Renal parenchymal
disease
Coarctation of the aorta

Young adults (19 to 39

years)

Thyroid dysfunction
Fibromuscular dysplasia
Renal parenchymal
disease

Middle-aged adults (40

to 64 years)

8 to 12

Aldosteronism
Thyroid dysfunction
Obstructive sleep apnea
Cushing syndrome

Pheochromocytoma
Older adults (65 years
and older)

17

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Atherosclerotic renal
artery stenosis

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Renal failure
Hypothyroidism

*Excluding dietary and drug causes and the risk factor of obesity.
Listed in approximate order of frequency within groups.
Information from references 2, 3, and 30 through 34.

Copyright 2010 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

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