Postmenopausal women have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and some other non-communicable diseases. These changes also may be gender-specific. An important but often overlooked risk factor is a history of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (HDP), especially gestational hypertension, which has recently been recognized as a risk factor for hypertension along with preeclampsia. This review details the association of HDP with the course of some postmenopausal chronic non-communicable diseases, with an emphasis on CVD, and describes the main mechanisms of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE OF THE REVIEW
To analyze the systemic impact of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy on the subsequent development of cardiovascular and other chronic non-communicable diseases, consider ways to reduce the burden of chronic diseases and improve the quality of life of postmenopausal women.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Publications from the PubMed database for 2010—2025 were reviewed.
RESULTS
According to outpatient observations, females are more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension and receive treatment but do not always respond well to antihypertensive therapy. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is higher in males; however, females are more likely to develop diabetes-related complications as traditional risk factors such as metabolic disorders and smoking are more detrimental to CVD complications and adverse outcomes in females. Women with postmenopausal hypertension have a higher prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy than premenopausal females and males of the same age. It explains the higher prevalence of chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in females than in males. Compared to males, females are more likely to develop obesity, and its prevalence also increases with age. Finally, women with acute coronary syndrome are less likely to have myocardial infarction (and more likely to have unstable angina) but have higher in-hospital cardiovascular mortality than males.
CONCLUSION
Long-term monitoring is necessary for women with a history of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy before the menopause. Developing personalized strategies for preventing cardiovascular and other chronic non-communicable diseases is crucial.
