Treatment of raised blood pressure in the population: the Canadian experience.
The Canadian Heart Health Survey, in which all 10 Canadian provinces participated using a standardized protocol, provides data from 23,129 randomly selected participants. The hypertension component of this survey indicates a prevalence of 22%; among these hypertensives, 59% were aware of their elevated blood pressure status. The breakdown of aware hypertensives indicates that 16% of those were treated and controlled, 24% were treated but not controlled, and 19% were neither treated nor controlled. In terms of drug prescription pattern, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, including angiotensin II antagonists, command the maximum market share of 27.7% ($36 million), followed by diuretics, calcium channel blockers, beta3-blockers, and others. Although hypertension awareness and control have improved in the past 25 years, sustained efforts are warranted to control hypertension in Canada.
Chockalingam
A
A
Adult Health Division, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Arun_Chockalingam@hc-sc.gc.ca
Fodor
J G
JG
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents