Secondary hypertension is defined as hypertension due to an identifiable cause.

Secondary hypertension is defined as hypertension due to an identifiable cause.

• A. An identifiable cause such as renovascular disease, coarctation of the aorta, primary aldosteronism, Cushing’s, pheochromocytoma, OSA, renal parenchymal hypertension
• B. Hypertension with unknown cause
• C. Hypertension not associated with any identifiable disease
• D. Hypertension due to lifestyle factors only

Answer: (A)

Secondary hypertension means high blood pressure that has a specific, identifiable cause rather than arising from broad, multifactorial risk factors. When the elevated pressure stems from a definite condition—such as renovascular disease causing reduced kidney perfusion, coarctation of the aorta causing increased systemic resistance, primary aldosteronism from adrenal overproduction, Cushing’s syndrome, pheochromocytoma, obstructive sleep apnea, or renal parenchymal disease—the hypertension is considered secondary because addressing the underlying problem can resolve or lessen the blood pressure. That’s why listing identifiable conditions like renovascular disease, coarctation, primary aldosteronism, Cushing’s, pheochromocytoma, OSA, and renal parenchymal hypertension best matches the definition. Hypertension with unknown cause or hypertension without an identifiable disease points to essential (primary) hypertension, which is the vast majority of cases and does not have a single discernible underlying pathology. Hypertension due to lifestyle factors alone also falls under primary hypertension.

Secondary hypertension means high blood pressure that has a specific, identifiable cause rather than arising from broad, multifactorial risk factors. When the elevated pressure stems from a definite condition—such as renovascular disease causing reduced kidney perfusion, coarctation of the aorta causing increased systemic resistance, primary aldosteronism from adrenal overproduction, Cushing’s syndrome, pheochromocytoma, obstructive sleep apnea, or renal parenchymal disease—the hypertension is considered secondary because addressing the underlying problem can resolve or lessen the blood pressure.

That’s why listing identifiable conditions like renovascular disease, coarctation, primary aldosteronism, Cushing’s, pheochromocytoma, OSA, and renal parenchymal hypertension best matches the definition. Hypertension with unknown cause or hypertension without an identifiable disease points to essential (primary) hypertension, which is the vast majority of cases and does not have a single discernible underlying pathology. Hypertension due to lifestyle factors alone also falls under primary hypertension.