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Cardiovascular Risk in Postmenopausal Women: What is Known and what is Unknown

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Hypertension in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

The leading causes of death in postmenopausal women in the United States are coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, despite a steady decline during the past two decades [1, 2]. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) secondary to atherosclerosis occurs in much lower frequencies in many third world countries, as well as in several oriental populations [3]. The prevalence of CVD in premenopausal women is reflected by between a fifth and half as many deaths in CHD below the age of 50–55 years, as in men of the same age. After menopause, women develop CHD at the same rate as men, although approximately 6–10 years later [4]. The incidence of stroke is increased with age in both sexes, and most types of stroke are slightly more common in men than in women [5]. Despite the impact of CVD on postmenopausal womens’ health, very few population-based studies of CVD have included women, or focused exclusively on women. Furthermore, few clinical trials have involved female populations large enough to allow adequate evaluation of treatments for CVD in women [2].

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Authors
  1. Karin Manhem
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine 1, Hôpital Broussais, F-75674, Paris Cedex 14, France

    Michel Emile Safar M.D. (Professor of Therapeutics) (Professor of Therapeutics)

  2. Hypertension Research Center, Hôpital Broussais, F-75674, Paris Cedex 14, France

    Michel Emile Safar M.D. (Professor of Therapeutics) (Professor of Therapeutics)

  3. Medical School, University of Cologne, D-50931, Cologne, Germany

    Michael Stimpel M.D. (Assistant Professor of Medicine) (Assistant Professor of Medicine)

  4. Department of Clinical Research, Schwarz Pharma AG, D-40789, Monheim, Germany

    Michael Stimpel M.D. (Assistant Professor of Medicine) (Assistant Professor of Medicine)

  5. Centro die Fisiologia, Clinica e Ipertensione, Policlinico Via F. Sforza 35, I-20122, Milano, Italy

    Alberto Zanchetti M.D. (Professor of Medicine) (Professor of Medicine)

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© 1994 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Manhem, K. (1994). Cardiovascular Risk in Postmenopausal Women: What is Known and what is Unknown. In: Safar, M.E., Stimpel, M., Zanchetti, A. (eds) Hypertension in Postmenopausal Women. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79077-5_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79077-5_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-58144-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-79077-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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