In 1 large systematic review of prospective studies, BP treatment in those aged 30 to 54 years (of whom 79% were white) yielded a reduction in risk of fatal and nonfa- tal cerebrovascular events of 41% (95% CI, 8% 63%), as well as a 27% reduction in fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events In this same study, when black women were considered as a separate group, BP treatment reduced the risk of fatal and nonfatal cerebrovascular events by 53% Sex, BP, Antihypertensive Treatment, and Achieving BP Goals Numerous studies have shown that females have lower BP levels over much of their life span than their age-matched but this changes with age. For example, the prevalence of hypertension in adults <45 years of age is lower in women than men, but hypertension becomes increas- ingly prevalent and is higher in postmenopausal women than men after the age of 55 years, which suggests an important role of sex hormones in the regulation of BP.1 The lifetime risk of developing hypertension in the United States is 29% for women and 31% for men1 ; however, 75% of women >60 years of age become hypertensive.2 Age-adjusted hypertension prevalence, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, from 1999 to 2002 was 78% for older women and only 64% for older men.111 Sex differences in the pattern of prescribed antihyperten- sive medications have been seen across several large studies. 