Age

30–70

Sex

ALL

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

body mass index (BMI) \>30 kg/m2
active smoking (\>20 cigarettes/day)
pregnancy/lactation
hypertension associated with family history of hypertension and cerebrovascular events before 40 years of age
sleep apnea
hypertension appearance in pre-pubertal age
hypokalemia
hypertension in the setting of an incidental adrenal mass
classic signs and symptoms of hypercortisolism (lunar facies, striae, hypertrichosis, skin atrophy, hump)
proven endocrine hypertension (pheochromocytoma, hyperaldosteronism, hyperparathyroidism, acromegaly, hyperthyroidism)
renovascular hypertension
diseases or conditions associated with increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal axis and/or oxidative stress, such as type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, severe rheumatic/autoimmune diseases, severe hematological diseases, alcoholism, depressive syndrome, chronic renal failure (GFR \<45 ml/min), severe hypovitaminosis D (25OHvitaminD \<10 ng/dL)
therapies that interfere with the activity of the HPA axis (i.e. glucocorticoids, antidepressants).

Cortisol Secretion, Sensitivity and Activity and Hypertension