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The Burden of High Blood Pressure in Canada
Over 3 million Canadians have been diagnosed with high blood pressure (hypertension) and it is estimated that another 2 million Canadians are living with high blood pressure but are yet to be diagnosed. Furthermore, a recent study found that only 41% of Canadians with high blood pressure had their condition under control1. The prevalence of high blood pressure increases as we age, therefore the number of Canadians with this condition is expected to rise dramatically over the next 20 years.
Higher blood pressure can often lead to greater risk of subsequent health problems, and is a leading risk factor for many diseases, including cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease and peripheral vascular disease, and renal disease. A report by the Institute of Health Economics outlines estimates that high blood pressure increases the risk of ischemic heart disease 3 to 4-fold and the overall cardiovascular risk by 2 to 3-fold. Also, the incidence of stroke increases approximately 3-fold in persons with borderline hypertension and approximately 8-fold in persons with definite hypertension2.
According to Health Canada's Economic Burden of Illness in Canada, the direct and indirect costs of cardiovascular diseases were estimated to be over $18 billion in 1998. Hospital care accounted for $4.1 billion in direct costs while short and long term disability costs resulting form cardiovascular disease were estimated to be $3.4 billion. Hypertension is the leading diagnosis in physician visits in Canada and accounted for over 16 million patient visits to doctors in 2001.
1 Khan N, Chockalingam A, Campbell NR. Lack of control of high blood pressure and treatment recommendations in Canada. Can J Cardiol 2002 Jun;18(6):657-61.
2 Hypertension and Economic Burden of Illness in Canada, Institute of Health Economics, June 19, 2000.
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