A large number of secondary causes of hypertension have been described (Fig. 10.2). Although the prevalence of many of these conditions is debatable, it does, however, depend upon a variety of factors; primary hyperaldosteronism, for example, is approximately twice as common in non-Caucasian hypertensive patients as it is in Caucasian ones.
The most common secondary cause is renal disease with activation of the renin-angiotensin system.
