Sex differences in risk factor control of treated hypertensives: a national primary healthcare-based study in Sweden.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate potential sex differences, this study aimed to investigate blood pressure and lipid control and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease in treated hypertensive (tHT) patients from primary healthcare.


METHODS
This cross-sectional survey of tHT patients was carried out between 2002 and 2005 by 264 primary care physicians from Sweden who consecutively recruited 6537 tHT patients (48% men and 52% women) from medical records.


RESULTS
tHT men more often reached the treatment goal for systolic/diastolic blood pressure, less than 140/90 mmHg, than tHT women (30 vs. 26%, P<0.01). Men had lower systolic blood pressure than women, however, women had lower diastolic blood pressure and higher pulse pressure. More tHT women had total cholesterol>or=5.0 mmol/l than corresponding men (75 vs. 64% P<0.001). Men more often had diabetes (25 vs. 20% P<0.001), left ventricular hypertrophy (20 vs. 16% P<0.001), and microalbuminuria (24 vs. 16% P<0.001). Women were more often treated with diuretics (64 vs. 48%) and beta-receptor blockers (54 vs. 51%), and men more often treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (27 vs. 18%), calcium channel blockers (34 vs. 26%), and lipid-lowering drugs (34 vs. 29%).


CONCLUSIONS
A need still exists for more intensified treatment of elevated blood pressure and hypercholesterolemia, especially in women. In hypertensives of both sexes, smoking and other risk factors also need to be addressed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Journath
Gunilla
G
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Family and Community Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden. gunilla.journath@ki.se
Hellénius
Mai-Lis
ML
Petersson
Ulla
U
Theobald
Holger
H
Nilsson
Peter M
PM
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents