Hypertension alone or related to the metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women

Cardiovascular risk is poorly perceived by women, especially during the peri-and postmenopausal period when susceptibility to cardiovascular events increases. Nevertheless in Europe, 55% of women versus 43% of men currently die of cardiovascular disease. Blood pressure is one of the most powerful and accurate determinants of cardiovascular status and risk. Despite its importance, hypertension is often underestimated and undiagnosed, especially in women. Various mechanisms are implicated to play a role in the blood pressure increase in women at the time of menopause. Hypertension can be considered an isolated disease, more typical of elderly women, or part of the metabolic syndrome, more frequent in early postmenopausal women. The metabolic syndrome, a clustering of lipid and nonlipid cardiovascular risk factors, is estimated to affect approximately 20-30% of the middle-aged population and its prevalence appears to be increasing in the worldwide population. © 2010 Expert Reviews Ltd.