Hypertension surveillance in Canada: minimum standards for assessing blood pressure in surveys

The last Canadian survey that accurately assessed hypertension treatment and control is over 12 years old. The survey indicated that only 13% of adults with hypertension were treated and controlled. Statistics Canada has announced a new survey that will measure health risks in 2007-2008. A committee of hypertension and survey experts was formed to provide recommendations to ensure the survey would address the minimum surveillance needs of the hypertension community. The committee made several innovative recommendations to improve the reproducibility and standardization of blood pressure assessment. In particular, it was recommended to adopt oscillometric measurement and to have measurements conducted in the absence of study personnel. Continued use of standard Canadian survey questions to assess awareness and treatment of hypertension was recommended to allow comparison with prior surveys. It was also recommended that Canada adopt a specific question on lifestyle changes. The new survey will allow the Canadian hypertension community, and in particular the Canadian Hypertension Education Program, to evaluate the effectiveness of current programs for prevention, treatment and control of hypertension and to revise our strategies based on the results.