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Hypertension in women
1Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. taler.sandra@mayo.edu
Current Hypertension Reports
|January 17, 2009
Summary
Elderly women, especially those from minority groups, have higher systolic blood pressure and hypertension rates. Research highlights sex-based differences in blood pressure and the need for tailored hypertension treatments for women.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Gerontology
- Women's Health
Background:
- Systolic blood pressure (SBP) is elevated in older women compared to men, particularly in African American and Hispanic women over 60 and white women over 70.
- Higher hypertension prevalence, including isolated systolic hypertension, is observed in elderly women due to longer survival rates.
- Sex-based hemodynamic differences in premenopausal women diminish post-menopause, potentially due to hormonal changes, weight gain, and increased adiposity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of hypertension in women, focusing on age and ethnicity.
- To highlight the benefits of hypertension treatment in women and discuss limitations of current clinical trials.
- To identify the need for further research on pharmacotherapy for hypertension in women.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of clinical trials and epidemiological studies on hypertension in women.
- Analysis of hemodynamic differences between sexes across different age groups and menopausal status.
- Examination of treatment benefits, side effects, and metabolic considerations of antihypertensive medications in women.
Main Results:
- Elderly women exhibit higher SBP and hypertension prevalence, with specific trends noted for different ethnic groups.
- Clinical trials confirm treatment benefits for cardiovascular events and mortality reduction in women.
- Women may experience more side effects from antihypertensive drugs and exhibit different drug metabolism patterns.
Conclusions:
- Hypertension management in women requires careful consideration of age, ethnicity, and menopausal status.
- Further research is essential for optimizing drug selection, dosage, and combination therapies for women's hypertension.
- Clinical trial designs should consider the heterogeneity of women's health and comorbidities to ensure applicability of findings.
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