Sex-Specific Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes

Much of what we understand about the regulation of arterial pressure and extracellular fluid volume has been derived from studies in men. Although the responses that can be mounted against major physiological challenges to extracellular fluid volume (hemorrhage/dehydration) are essentially similar in men and women, there are marked sex-related differences in the regulation of renal and cardiovascular physiology. These possibly underpin the greater risk of renal and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in men and, conversely, confer the relative protection from these conditions in women, at least until menopause. In recent years, advances have been made in understanding the mechanistic bases for sex-related differences in CVD and these have been reviewed in detail. Therefore, the purpose of this report is to provide an update of findings in the past few years.