Long-term pharmacologic treatment of women with hypertension

✍ Scribed by Pamela Charney

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 316 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1042-0533
• DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.1310070208

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

As reviewed in “Hypertension in Women: What is Really Known?” (Women's Caucus Working Group on Women's Health of the Society of General Internal Medicine [1991] Ann Intern Med 115:287–293), the published literature reveals that hypertension frequently occurs in women and that only some prospective studies have defined specific benefits and risks of long‐term pharmacologic treatment. Major U.S. epidemiologic studies show the incidence of hypertension to very between 20% and 50% of the population. It is more common among Afro‐Americans than White Americans. Frequency increases with aging. Several studies of at least 3 years duration that have focused on the use of diuretics and B blockers are reviewed: Hypertension Detection and Follow‐Up Program (HDFP), Medical Research Council (MRC), MRC trial in the treatment of older adults (MRC‐Older), and isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly (SHEP). Both diuretics and B blockers generally lower blood pressure, and decrease stroke incidence and mortality. Diuretics seem to be more effective and better tolerated than B blockers. Long‐term studies of newer antihypertensive agents do not yet exist. The sexual side effects of drugs have only been studied to a limited degree in women. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.