Hypertension in Canada: Past, Present, and Future

Publication date: March–April 2016 Source:Annals of Global Health, Volume 82, Issue 2 Author(s): Ernesto L. Schiffrin, Norman R.C. Campbell, Ross D. Feldman, Janusz Kaczorowski, Richard Lewanczuk, Raj Padwal, Sheldon W. Tobe Canada has an extremely successful hypertension detection and treatment program. The aim of this review was to highlight the historic and current infrastructure and initiatives that have led to this success, and the outlook moving forward into the future. We discuss the evolution of hypertension awareness and control in Canada; contributions made by organizations such as the Canadian Hypertension Society, Blood Pressure Canada, and the Canadian Hypertension Education Program; the amalgamation of these organizations into Hypertension Canada; and the impact that Hypertension Canada has had on hypertension care in Canada. The important contribution that public policy and advocacy can have on prevention and control of blood pressure in Canada is described. We also highlight the importance of population-based strategies, health care access and organization, and accurate blood pressure measurement (including ambulatory, home, and automated office modalities) in optimizing hypertension prevention and management. We end by discussing how Hypertension Canada will move forward in the near and longer term to address the unmet residual risk attributable to hypertension and associated cardiovascular risk factors. Hypertension Canada will continue t...

Source: Annals of Global Health - July 1, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: research