title: Gender and hypertension management: a sub-analysis of the I-inSYST survey.
abstract: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in women. Aim. To evaluate blood pressure control, prevalence of concomitant cardiovascular risk factors, subclinical and clinical organ damage, and treatment according to gender. Methods. 11,562 patients (49% women) from the cross-sectional I-inSyst survey in primary care were included. Results. Blood pressure control in women (21.8%) and men (21.2%) was similar, despite a slightly older age (64.9 vs 63 years, p<0.0001). Women had less concomitant cardiovascular risk factors and organ damage, with the exception of diabetes, cerebrovascular and renal disease, than men. They received more antihypertensive drugs than men (1.7 ± 0.9 vs 1.5 ± 0.9, p<0.0001). Diuretics were more (45% vs 36.5%, p<0.0001), calcium-channel blockers (26% vs 29%, p<0.003) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (20% vs 22%, p<0.02) were less commonly prescribed in women than in men. Different clinical factors (i.e. age, duration of hypertension, smoking) in women and men were associated with blood pressure control, but gender itself was not. Conclusions. In this group of treated hypertensive patients, blood pressure control in women and men was not different. Women had a lower prevalence of most cardiovascular risk factors, subclinical and clinical organ damage. Antihypertensive drug treatment varied according to gender.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. hemovnnp@uzbrussel.be
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van der Niepen
authors.forename: Dierik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Verbeelen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents