A cross-sectional study of 1,038 hypertensive adults aged 60+ in Vietnam found frailty was more common among women (35%) than men (26%).
Key Findings
- Suboptimal blood pressure (BP) rates were similar between sexes (women 25.5%, men 27.2%).
- Frail women had approximately twice the odds of suboptimal BP (OR 2.01) compared to non-frail women; no association was observed in men (OR 0.92).
- The sex difference in the frailty-BP association was significant (female-to-male OR ratio 2.18).
Study Details
- Data were collected from outpatient clinics at two major hospitals in Vietnam (2023–2024).
- Frailty was assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale (score ≥4).
- Suboptimal BP defined as systolic ≥140 mmHg or diastolic ≥90 mmHg per Vietnamese guidelines.
- Models adjusted for age, education, exercise, marital status, falls, comorbidities, hypertension duration, medication type, and adherence.
Potential Explanations
- Clinicians may be less aggressive in lowering BP in women due to higher risk of falls and osteoporosis.
- Sex differences in medication metabolism could affect treatment outcomes.
- The study could not separate biological sex from gender-related factors (e.g., education, caregiving roles).
Limitations
- Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference.
- Retrospective BP records, not standardized measurements.
- Participants from specialist clinics had high multimorbidity/polypharmacy; results may not generalize to all community-dwelling older adults.
Implications
- Routine frailty screening may help identify high-risk older women for personalized BP management.
- Future prospective studies should examine how frailty-informed BP control affects cardiovascular outcomes.