"Gender specific medicine": a focus on gender-differences in hypertension.

Abstract

Hypertension, worldwide considered the most frequent disease, is one of the major contributors to the leading cause of death in women: cardiovascular diseases. Until recently, women have been underestimated in clinical trials. Menopause represents the moment when the so-called "female advantage" is reversed. This review is presenting some gender-specific differences that explain why women are more exposed, especially if obesity is present in post-menopausal women, to hypertension complications. The smaller percentage of optimal controlled blood pressure values in hypertensive women is explained by a lesser adherence to lifestyle modifications and to drug therapy. All these gender-associated differences must be considered in hypertension management of women.