Sex-based differences in risk of cardiovascular disease development and cardiovascular risk factors among individuals with hypertension: A cross-sectional study from primary care facilities

Background

Over the last two decades, the understanding of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has expanded in Asian countries. Despite this progress, there have been limited investigations into sex-based differences in the development of CVD and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs).

Aim

We investigated whether males and females with hypertension had different risks of developing CVD and CVRFs.

Methods

We used a stratified multi-stage sampling design involving 15 primary care centers in Thailand. We recruited 1,448 individuals aged 35–74 years old. The Framingham cardiovascular risk algorithm was used to determine the risk of CVD development.

Results

Female patients were overall more likely to have lower CVD risk scores. However, they demonstrated higher scores in the moderate-risk (p < 0.001) and high-risk (p < 0.001) groups as compared with males. One in four females was at a high risk of developing CVD. Females had higher rates of all CVRFs against males across sub-risk groups, with the highest odds ratio observed in the high-risk group, which persisted after adjusting for covariations. Overall, female patients had higher rates of diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and abdominal obesity as compared with males. Females in the overall group had a lower prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension than males, in contrast to the high-risk group. Female patients also had a lower prevalence of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption than males.

Conclusion

There is evidence of sex-based differences in the risk of CVD development in hypertensive individuals. The interaction of CVRFs with a high risk of developing CVD was noted in females.