The aim of this single-blind study was to compare the efficacy of betaxolol treatment (20 mg/day) on 24-h blood pressure profiles in working men and women with mild hypertension (grade 1 acc. ESH/ESC/JNC 2003), A group of 11 men and 11 women with a mean age 47+/-5 years underwent 24-h blood pressure monitoring after 8 days of placebo and after 20 days of treatment. A significant reduction (p < 0.05) in blood pressure was found for 11 h in men and 15 h in women (systolic) and 9 h in men and 13 h in women (diastolic). There was a tendency for a greater mean reduction in women (9.6/8.0 mmHg in men versus 12.9/7.4 mmHg in women). Diastolic blood pressure variability was significantly reduced in women (9.9 versus 13.1, respectively, p < 0.002) with a tendency for systolic blood pressure variability reduction (13.0 versus 15.1). The smoothness index for systolic blood pressure was higher in women (1.0/0.74 versus 0.64/0.61). A better response for betaxolol treatment 20 mg/day was observed in women in terms of target organ damage: a longer period of significant blood pressure reduction, lower variability and a tendency toward a greater reduction.