Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate sex differences in the pharmacological treatment of hypertension in primary care.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study among 14,384 patients with hypertension from the Julius General Practitioners' Network, without cardiovascular disease or diabetes, treated with antihypertensive medications.
METHODS: We compared men and women in the number and type of prescribed antihypertensives and their blood pressure.
RESULTS: Women (n=8596) and men (n=5788) were prescribed the same number of antihypertensive agents on average (1.8). Women received lower dosages, more often beta-blockers (35% vs. 26%, p<0.001) and diuretics (54% vs. 51%, p<0.001), but less often ACE inhibitors (35% vs. 46%, p<0.001) and calcium channel blockers (29% vs. 36%, p<0.001). Blood pressure control was more often achieved in women than in men (50% vs. 46%, p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: Although current guidelines do not distinguish between sexes, differences exist in the type and dosage of antihypertensives prescribed, and in the rate of blood pressure control.
| Translated title of the contribution | Sex differences in the pharmacological treatment of hypertension in primary care |
|---|---|
| Original language | Dutch |
| Article number | D8674 |
| Journal | Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde |
| Volume | 169 |
| Publication status | Published - 11 Sept 2025 |
Keywords
- Humans
- Hypertension/drug therapy
- Male
- Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use
- Female
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Primary Health Care
- Middle Aged
- Sex Factors
- Aged
- Blood Pressure/drug effects
- Practice Patterns, Physicians'
- Calcium Channel Blockers/therapeutic use
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use