Our study findings showed the following: GDF-15 level was significantly greater in patients with newly diagnosed grade-2 essential HT compared with those with grade-1 essential HT and healthy normotensive subjects; serum GDF-15 is positively correlated with aortic stiffness (β) index and mean E/E′ ratio, while negatively correlated with aortic strain and aortic distensibility; and increased serum GDF-15 was found to be an independent predictor for increased aortic stiffness (β) index, increased AoDD and increased diastolic BP. The gene discussed is GDF15; the disease is hematocrit.