Abstract
Hypertension is a major concern in women, contributing to the risk for morbidity and
mortality and the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart attack, and stroke.
A woman's risk for the development of hypertension increases with age. Although it
also affects younger women, hypertension is prevalent in approximately 60% of women
>65 years of age. In addition to age, there are specific risk factors and lifestyle
contributors for the development of hypertension in women, including obesity, ethnicity,
diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Risk reduction strategies need to be used to
help reduce hypertension; maintaining a healthy body weight through diet and exercise,
reduced sodium intake, and lower alcohol intake are a few of the approaches for hypertension
risk reduction in women. There are several proposed mechanisms for the development
of hypertension that are unique to women and pertain to the aging-related elevated
risk for hypertension resulting from falling estrogen levels during menopause. Oral
contraceptives, pre-eclampsia and polycystic ovary syndrome are special considerations
concerning the development and progression of hypertension in women. There are significant
awareness issues and care gaps in the treatment of hypertension in women. Therefore,
these problems must be faced and efforts need to be taken to resolve the issues surrounding
the treatment and control of hypertension in women.
Résumé
L’hypertension artérielle qui est une préoccupation majeure chez les femmes contribue
au risque de morbidité et de mortalité, et au développement de maladie cardiovasculaire
(MCV), de crise cardiaque et d’accident cérébral vasculaire. Le risque de développement
de l’hypertension chez la femme augmente avec l’âge. Bien qu’elle se manifeste également
chez les plus jeunes femmes, l’hypertension est courante chez environ 60 % des femmes
âgées de > 65 ans. En plus de l’âge, il existe des facteurs de risque spécifiques
et des causes liées au mode de vie dans le développement de l’hypertension chez les
femmes, dont l’obésité, l’ethnicité, le diabète et la néphropathie chronique. Des
stratégies de réduction du risque doivent être utilisées pour aider à réduire l’hypertension;
le maintien d’un poids santé au moyen du régime et de l’exercice, la réduction de
l’apport en sodium et la diminution de la consommation d’alcool sont quelques-unes
des approches pour réduire le risque d’hypertension chez les femmes. Plusieurs des
mécanismes proposés dans le développement de l’hypertension n’existent que chez les
femmes et concernent le risque élevé d’hypertension liée à l’âge et provoquée par
la chute de la concentration en œstrogènes au cours de la ménopause. Les contraceptifs
oraux, la prééclampsie et le syndrome des ovaires polykystiques sont des aspects particuliers
à prendre en considération concernant le développement et la progression de l’hypertension
chez les femmes. Il y a d’importants problèmes de sensibilisation et des lacunes en
matière de soins concernant le traitement de l’hypertension chez les femmes. Par conséquent,
ces problèmes doivent être surmontés et des efforts doivent être déployés pour résoudre
les problèmes entourant le traitement et le contrôle de l’hypertension chez les femmes.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 03, 2014
Accepted:
February 23,
2014
Received:
January 31,
2014
Footnotes
See page 557 for disclosure information.
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
