Beta blockers are medications that reduce high blood pressure and are prescribed for adults with hypertension, a leading cause of heart disease. In a study published in Hypertension, researchers from the University of Bologna found that women taking beta-blockers for high blood pressure have a nearly 5% higher risk for heart failure than men when they present to hospitals with acute coronary syndrome.
Researchers analyzed the effects of beta blockers on men and women with hypertension and no history of heart disease after presenting with acute coronary syndromes. Following incidence of heart failure was recorded to determine if the medication caused different outcomes depending on gender differences.
“Past research on the effects of beta blockers included a majority of participants who were men, so we sought to examine how sex/gender plays a role in the patient outcomes,” said Raffaele Bugiardini, M.D., professor of cardiology at the University of Bologna and lead author of the study.
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“Women are historically underrepresented in most clinical studies on hypertension. It’s important to include an equal split of male and female patients in future research, which could shed light on disparities and actionable treatments.”
The study analyzed information from 13,764 adults in 12 European countries who had hypertension and no prior history of cardiovascular disease. Patients were classified by sex/gender and then separated into two groups: those taking beta blockers and those who were not.
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