title: Arterial hypertension in the female world: pathophysiology and therapy.
abstract: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and outcomes in women, and antihypertensive therapy is not always successful in achieving control over the blood pressure (BP). Nonoptimal control of BP remains a crucial risk factor for cardiovascular mortality, and in women, it could be related to sex-specific factors. Historically, women have been under-represented in clinical trials; therefore, the benefits of clinical outcomes and the safety profiles of antihypertensive therapies have been studied less extensively in women. The reasons for the sex differences in BP levels are multifactorial, implying different roles of the sex hormones, the renin-angiotensin system, sympathetic activity, and arterial stiffness. A complete understanding of the pathophysiological features of these differences requires further investigation.Nevertheless, the prevalence of the use of antihypertensive agents is higher among middle-aged women than among men. Notably, in the United States, hypertensive women use more diuretics and angiotensin receptor blockers than men, whereas hypertensive men more often receive beta-blockers, calcium channel antagonists, or inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme. To date, the explanations for these sex differences in the consumption of antihypertensive drugs remain unknown.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Medical Sciences 'M. Aresu', University of Cagliari bDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari cCardiology Complex Unit, Marino Hospital - ASL Cagliari Marino - ASL Cagliari dDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari; National Laboratory of Gender Medicine of the National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Osilo, Sassari eCMR Unit, Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana fFondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana and Institute of Clinical Physiology-CNR, Pisa gDepartment of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Chieti, Pescara hDepartment of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Italy.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cadeddu
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franconi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cassisa
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Campesi
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pepe
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cugusi
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maffei
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallina
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sciomer
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mercuro
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones