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Blood pressure in Canadian adults
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by Kathryn Wilkins, Norman R.C. Campbell, Michel R. Joffres, Finlay A. McAlister, Marianne Nichol, Susan Quach, Helen L. Johansen and Mark S. Tremblay
Abstract
Keywords
Findings
Authors
What is already known on this subject?
What does this study add?
Abstract
Background
Hypertension is estimated to cause more than one-eighth of all deaths worldwide. In Canada, the last national surveys to include direct measures of blood pressure (BP) took place over the years 1985-1992; hypertension was estimated at 21%.
Data source and methods
Data are from cycle 1 of the Canadian Health Measures Survey, conducted from March 2007 through February 2009. The survey included direct BP measures using an automated device. Weighted frequencies, means and cross-tabulations were produced to estimate levels of hypertension awareness, treatment and control in the population aged 20 to 79 years.
Results
Among adults aged 20 to 79 years, hypertension (systolic BP higher than or equal to 140 or diastolic BP higher than or equal to 90 mm Hg, or self-reported recent medication use for high BP) was present in 19%. Another 20% had BP in the pre-hypertension range (systolic 120 to 139 or diastolic 80 to 89 mm Hg). Of those with hypertension, 83% were aware, 80% were taking antihypertensive drugs, and 66% were controlled. Uncontrolled hypertension was largely due to high systolic BP.
Interpretation
Hypertension prevalence is similar to that reported in 1992. Since then, the level of hypertension control has increased considerably.
Keywords
awareness, blood pressure determination, hypertension, population surveillance
Findings
Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiac, cerebrovascular and other vascular diseases.1-5 Hypertension is also a major cause of disability and is considered to be the leading risk factor for death in the world, causing an estimated 7.5 million deaths per year (13% of all deaths). Surveillance of BP in the population provides vital feedback to hypertension prevention and control efforts. With the recent Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS), direct, automated measures of BP were collected from a representative sample of people, allowing for the most accurate nationwide assessment of the prevalence of hypertension that has ever been undertaken.[Full text]
Authors
Kathryn Wilkins (1-613-951-1769; Kathryn.Wilkins@statcan.gc.ca) and Helen L. Johansen are with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6. Norman R.C. Campbell is with the Health Science Centre, University of Calgary. Michel R. Joffres is with the Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University. Finlay A. McAlister is with the Department of Medicine, University of Alberta. Marianne Nichol is with the Public Health Agency of Canada. Susan Quach was formerly with the Public Health Agency of Canada. Mark S. Tremblay is with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute and Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa.
What is already known on this subject?
- High blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for heart and vascular disease and is an important cause of death around the world.
- The last nationwide surveys in Canada that included direct measures of BP took place over the period 1985 to 1992. The prevalence of hypertension (systolic BP higher than or equal to 140 or diastolic BP higher than or equal to 90 mm Hg, or self-report of recent medication use for high BP) in adults was estimated at 21%.
- According to a 2006 Ontario survey that involved direct measures of BP using an automated device, the prevalence of hypertension in adults was estimated at 19%.
What does this study add?
- Based on data from the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey, including BP values and respondent self-report of medication use, hypertension prevalence in adults aged 20 to 79 years was estimated at 19%.
- Of people with hypertension, 83% were aware of their condition, 80% were being treated pharmaceutically, and 66% had BP below 140/90 mm Hg.
- Considerable improvements in hypertension awareness and control have been achieved in Canada over the past two decades.
