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. 2013 Dec;3(4):352-356.
doi: 10.1038/kisup.2013.76.

Hypertension in women

Fadi G Hage  1 , Sulaf J Mansur  2 , Dongqi Xing  3 , Suzanne Oparil  3
Affiliations

Hypertension in women

Fadi G Hage et al. Kidney Int Suppl (2011). 2013 Dec.

Abstract

Hypertension is the most common modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in both men and women. The prevalence and severity of hypertension rise markedly with age, and blood pressure control becomes more difficult with aging in both genders, particularly in women. In addition, there are forms of hypertension that occur exclusively in women, e.g., hypertension related to menopause, oral contraceptive use, or pregnancy (e.g., chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia or eclampsia). Randomized controlled trials show that antihypertensive therapy provides similar reductions in major cardiovascular events in men and women. Therefore, gender should not influence decisions on selection of blood pressure lowering therapies, except for consideration of gender-specific side effects or contraindications for use in women who are or may become pregnant. This article reviews the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in women, as well as recent guidelines for management of hypertension in women.

Keywords: antihypertensive treatment; hypertension; oral contraceptives; preeclampsia; pregnancy-related hypertension; women.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Blood pressure control rates as a function of age and gender (data from Keyhani et al.).
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