Important differences between hypertensive middle-aged women and men in cardiovascular autonomic control—a critical appraisal

Abstract Background Normotensive premenopausal women show a vagal predominance of cardiac autonomic modulation, whereas age-matched men sympathetic modulation. However, some develop systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) even with preserved ovarian function. Our hypothesis is that these may have cardiovascular parameters similar to those hypertensive men, when subjected pharmacological treatment. We aimed investigate control and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in men. Methods One hundred volunteers between 18 45 years age were assigned two groups (50 participants each): group including patients history SAH for at least 6 months (25 25 women), who under treatment monotherapy (losartan, 25–50 mg/kg); normotensive women). Anthropometric, hemodynamic, metabolic, assessments performed focusing on BRS, modulation heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BPV). Results On HRV analysis, showed higher values high-frequency (HF) oscillations absolute normalized units, lower ​of low-frequency (LF) LF/HF ratio, as compared When the compared, total variance LF HF bands units. than group. Conclusion Regardless through treatment, continued reduced normotensive, had more impairment women.