Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects about 25 percent of the adult population, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The agency estimates that in 2006, 31 percent of adults with hypertension were male and 33 percent female. Gender differences in hypertension rates, treatment and disease progression exist, although the gap has steadily narrowed.
Incidence Rate
In the April 2008 issue of "Hypertension," Dr. Salomeh Keyhani writes that women are less likely than men to meet their blood pressure target numbers. The study concludes that this is due to a tendency of both doctors and women to underestimate the potential for cardiovascular disease in women.
Another reason for differences in incidence rate between genders are the mitigating factors specifically affecting women. Dr. Suzanne Oparil explains in the May 2005 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Hypertension" that pregnancy, contraceptive use and menopausal hormonal changes can all influence the blood pressure rates of women.
Disease Progression
As women enter menopause, the gender differences in hypertension disappear, but reappear in later life. According to CDC data, the 2006 hypertension rate for adults ages 45 to 54 was 36 percent for both men and women. The hypertension rate for adult males 65 to 74 was 64 percent, but 71 percent for adult females the same age. At age 75 and older, the rate for males rises slightly to 65 percent but skyrockets in women to 80 percent. The reasons are unknown.
Treatment
As of 2010, doctors treat hypertensive men and women in much the same way, prescribing the same medications. One exception is the use of aspirin and beta blockers, which doctors prescribe to men at higher rates than women, according to the CDC. Further research that is gender-specific is required to fully understand how gender differences affect hypertension.
References
- NHLBI: Hypertension Guidelines
- CDC: Health 2009
- "Hypertension"; Gender Disparities in Blood Pressure Control; Salomeh Keyhani, M.D., M.P.H.; April 2008
- "The Journal of Clinical Hypertension"; Gender and Blood Pressure; Suzanne Oparil, MD; May 2005
- "American Journal of Hypertension"; Qiuping Gu, M.D., Ph.D.; Gender Differences in Hypertension Treatment; May 2008
