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Hypertension in Postmenopausal Women

Pathophysiology and Treatment

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Abstract

Hypertension is the most common chronic disease in industrialized countries and represents the most common major cardiovascular risk factor after the fifth decade of life in both men and women. The prevalence of hypertension is lower in premenopausal women than men, whereas in postmenopausal women it is higher than in men. Mechanisms responsible for the increase in blood pressure are complex and multifactorial, including loss of estrogen, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, modification in renin-angiotensin system spillover and sympathetic activation. In addition, postmenopausal hypertension can be considered an isolated disease, more typical of elderly women, or part of the metabolic syndrome, which is indeed more common in early postmenopausal women. In particular, metabolic syndrome may be considered a potentially unfavourable prognostic factor in hypertensive postmenopausal women, because it seems to worsen the severity of hypertension and reduce the capacity to respond to specific treatments. This article summarizes the different causes of postmenopausal hypertension and the specific treatment recommended by guidelines for this condition.

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Acknowledgements

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this review. The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this review.

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  1. Department of Cardiology, Policlinic University of Modena, Via del Pozzo 71, 41100, Modena, Italy

    Chiara Leuzzi &  Maria Grazia Modena

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  1. Chiara Leuzzi
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  2. Maria Grazia Modena
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Correspondence to Maria Grazia Modena.

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Leuzzi, C., Modena, M.G. Hypertension in Postmenopausal Women. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 18, 13–18 (2011). https://doi.org/10.2165/11588030-000000000-00000

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