Key Points
- To summarize current evidence regarding female-specific risk factors, pathophysiology, and clinical management of arterial hypertension to highlight critical research and clinical gaps.
- Conducted a comprehensive review of literature covering sex-specific pathophysiology, female reproductive risk factors, societal influences, and clinical guidelines for hypertension.
- Arterial hypertension development frequently begins in young, premenopausal women and is closely linked with gynecological conditions, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and menopause.
- Cardiovascular disease manifests at comparatively lower blood pressure levels in women than in men, indicating that diagnostic and therapeutic thresholds should potentially be lowered for female patients.
- Persistent underrepresentation of women in clinical trials and the scientific workforce perpetuates an evidence gap in gender-tailored treatment guidelines.
Structured PICO
PPopulationWomen with or at risk for arterial hypertension
IInterventionClinical management of hypertension and consideration of female-specific risk factors
This review emphasizes the need for early management of hypertension in women and suggests that diagnostic and treatment thresholds may need to be lowered due to female-specific risk factors and pathophysiology.