The many faces of hypertension in Canada

To describe aspects of prevalence and incidence of hypertension in Canada.

Three databases have been used to determine prevalence and incidence of hypertension in Canada. Estimates of burden of hypertension varied by methods of data collection. The prevalence amongst adults was 23% based on administrative data in 2007 (which rely on physician diagnosis, but captures all adults, including those living in institutions or long-term care facilities), 18% based on self-report in the Canadian Community Health Survey in 2007 and 19% based on physical measurements in community-dwelling adults in the Canadian Health Measures Survey in 2007-2009. In the absence of a large representative prospective cohort study, incidence in Canada can only be estimated using administrative data.

Representativeness and validity of these available national data are questionable for determining accurate prevalence and incidence of hypertension. The important selection criteria for these data limit their generalizability. Linkage of surveys, administrative data and electronic health records could provide rich data for determining a more accurate representation of hypertension in Canada.