Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 30, 2025

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Macerated Tissue to Visualize the Extracellular Matrix
10:21

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Macerated Tissue to Visualize the Extracellular Matrix

Published on: June 14, 2016

10.1K

Sex, gender, and subclinical hypertensiveorgan damage-heart

Cesare Cuspidi1, Elisa Gherbesi2, Carla Sala2

  • 1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy. cesare.cuspidi@unimib.it.

Journal of Human Hypertension
|August 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Women face higher risks of cardiac hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD), including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and diastolic dysfunction. Further research is needed for gender-specific treatments to protect women

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Hypertension Research
  • Sex Differences in Medicine

Background:

  • Hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) affects the heart, carrying adverse prognostic value.
  • While blood pressure (BP) severity is a risk factor, non-hemodynamic factors significantly influence cardiac HMOD.
  • Increasing evidence highlights sex-related differences in cardiovascular risk factors and HMOD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and update information on sex-related differences in cardiac HMOD.
  • To focus on key manifestations of subclinical hypertensive heart disease.
  • To examine left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), LV dysfunction, and chamber/aortic dilatation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of cross-sectional and longitudinal observational studies.
  • Analysis of real-world registries and randomized controlled trials.
  • Synthesis of current evidence on sex-based disparities in cardiac HMOD.

Main Results:

  • Women exhibit a higher propensity for developing and maintaining left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
  • Concentric remodeling and subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction are more prevalent in women.
  • These findings align with the morpho-functional characteristics of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Conclusions:

  • Women are at increased risk for specific cardiac HMOD manifestations, particularly LVH and subclinical LV dysfunction.
  • Current evidence suggests women are more prone to developing features of HFpEF.
  • Further research is essential to establish gender-specific therapeutic strategies for optimal cardiac protection in women.

More Related Videos

Assessing Murine Resistance Artery Function Using Pressure Myography07:25

Assessing Murine Resistance Artery Function Using Pressure Myography

Published on: June 7, 2013

22.4K
Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions07:30

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions

Published on: April 23, 2021

3.1K

Related Concept Videos

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:30

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
45
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology01:29

Hypertension II: Pathophysiology

Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the blood's force against artery walls is excessively high, posing risks such as heart disease. The condition's underlying mechanisms involve complex interactions among the cardiovascular, kidney, and autonomic nervous systems.Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system significantly influences blood pressure regulation. When blood pressure decreases, the kidneys secrete renin. This enzyme transforms angiotensinogen, a plasma protein,...
59
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease01:27

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
68
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure01:18

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...
2.3K
Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System01:18

Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is an intricate network of nerves that controls functions such as the regulation of heart rate, digestion, and blood pressure regulation. When this system malfunctions, it can lead to various disorders that affect multiple bodily functions. One common feature of many autonomic disorders is the involvement of smooth blood vessels, which play a crucial role in regulating blood flow throughout the body.
Raynaud's disease, also known as Raynaud's...
793
Hypertension I: Introduction01:28

Hypertension I: Introduction

Hypertension is a widespread, long-term medical condition where blood pressure in the arteries remains elevated. It is characterized by systolic blood pressure readings of 130 mm Hg or above or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) readings of 80 mm Hg or higher. Unmanaged hypertension poses significant health risks, making the distinction between primary (or essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension crucial, as their management and implications vary.Primary HypertensionPrimary hypertension,...
63