Media release

From: Hudson Institute of Medical Research

In a first-of-its-kind study, screening has found alarming levels of a major hypertension risk among young people in Australia’s Top End.

Associate Professor Jun Yang has previously established that a hormonal condition called primary aldosteronism (PA) is a significant but frequently undiagnosed cause of high blood pressure (hypertension), however there is no data on PA in Australian First Nations communities.

Thanks to a collaboration with Prof Gurmeet Singh from Menzies School of Health Research, Dr Yang and her team were able to test for PA in established cohorts of young people, Australian First Nations communities and non-Indigenous people living in the Northern Territory.

Shining a light on Indigenous hypertension

Their results, based on data from the Aboriginal Birth Cohort and Top End Cohort studies (supported by the Menzies), will be published in the latest edition of the Medical Journal of Australia.

A/Prof Yang believes the results are concerning in themselves, but also potentially open a window into broader issues of public health for Australian First Nations people.

“We found positive tests for PA in over a quarter of the urban-residing participants of the Cohort studies who were tested,” she said.

“Australian First Nations people are known to have high rates of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, but this is the first time this type of testing has been done in these communities. PA is a highly modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and correct identification will enable appropriate targeted treatment.”

Compounding cardiovascular risk

Lead author and PhD candidate Dr Elisabeth Ng said that “The timely detection of primary aldosteronism is particularly important for Australian First Nations people due to their high rates of heart and kidney diseases, both of which may be associated with having too much aldosterone.”

“Targeted treatment to block aldosterone action or remove aldosterone excess may be a lifesaver.” The next steps are to establish a process of appropriate screening process across the Top End.

Endocrine hypertension facts

• Endocrine hypertension refers to high blood pressure caused by the abnormal production of hormones.

• The most common form of endocrine hypertension is primary aldosteronism (PA), also known as Conn syndrome.

• Primary aldosteronism affects around 10% of those with hypertension but often goes undiagnosed.

• Endocrine hypertension is treatable with specific medication or even curable with surgery, depending on the exact cause.

• Find out more about this condition and A/Prof Yang’s research in this video.