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Hypertension in women

Eduardo Pimenta1

  • 1Endocrine Hypertension Research Centre and Clinical Centre of Research Excellence in Cardiovascular Disease and Metabolic Disorders, University of Queensland School of Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. e.pimenta@uq.edu.au

Hypertension Research : Official Journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension
|December 2, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Hypertension increases cardiovascular risk, particularly in women. Combined oral contraceptives can elevate blood pressure and CV risk, but these effects reverse upon discontinuation.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Women's Health

Background:

  • Hypertension is a significant, modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality, prevalent in both sexes.
  • The prevalence of hypertension is projected to rise more rapidly in women than men.
  • Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, surpassing cancer incidence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the impact of hormonal therapies on blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular risk in women.
  • To discuss the role of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in hypertensive women.
  • To highlight the importance of antihypertensive treatment benefits in women, comparable to men.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies concerning hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and hormonal therapies in women.
  • Analysis of the effects of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on blood pressure.
  • Examination of cardiovascular risk associated with hormonal contraceptives and antihypertensive treatment efficacy in women.

Main Results:

  • Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) can induce hypertension and increase CV risk in a subset of women.
  • COC-induced increases in CV risk and blood pressure (BP) normalize within 3 months of discontinuation.
  • Antihypertensive treatment offers comparable benefits for women and men.

Conclusions:

  • Women with established hypertension may benefit from COCs and HRT containing drospirenone.
  • Discontinuation of COCs leads to the reversal of associated CV risk and BP elevations.
  • Effective management of hypertension is crucial for reducing cardiovascular mortality in women.

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