Is vascular disease in the female different from men?

Therapeutical management of cardiovascular disease has been based on the results from clinical trials of which the majority of the included patients are men. There is now more evidence that risk factors for female cardiovascular patients are different than for male patients. There is even a sex difference in the management of cardiovascular disease in general. Retrospective studies have shown a beneficial effect of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy on the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and stroke as well. However, there are conflicting data in the literature and prospective studies are necessary. More attention has to be paid to cardiovascular disease in the female and studies of precise circulatory differences between sexes are recommended.