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Prevalence of reported high blood pressure in Canada: investigation of demographic and spatial trends

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Abstract

Aim

To investigate recent demographic and spatial trends of self-reported high blood pressure in Canada, including influence of age, gender, and household income, as well as the identification of global spatial autocorrelations and local spatial clustering within gender/income groups.

Subject and methods

Data were acquired from the Canadian Community Health Survey 2014 annual component and analyzed using both categorical response variables and age-standardized prevalence estimates. Inferential statistical procedures were assessed along with exploratory spatial statistics at the health region scale.

Results

All demographic variables contributed to reports of high blood pressure. Significant differences between genders and income quintiles were observed with a linear decrease in high blood pressure with increased household income for females, whereas income gradation was nonlinear for males. Local spatial clustering of high rates was observed, particularly in the eastern provinces. Income dependence on spatial parameters was found to vary by gender.

Conclusion

Both spatial and non-spatial analyses outline specific cross-sections of the Canadian population that may be at high risk for developing additional cardiovascular health issues related to hypertension. Spatial results demonstrate specific health regions that may be in greater need of public health efforts toward promoting cardiovascular fitness that are tailored to particular regional and cross-sectional requirements.

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to acknowledge the Data Liberation Initiative (DLI) Laurentian University membership for providing access to the PUMF. This research was not associated with Statistics Canada; all results, inferences, and opinions are that of the author only. There are no funding sources to report.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroscience Research Group, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada, P3E 2C6

    Joseph M. Caswell

  2. Human Studies Ph.D. Program, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada, P3E 2C6

    Joseph M. Caswell

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  1. Joseph M. Caswell
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Correspondence to Joseph M. Caswell.

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The author declares no conflict of interest.

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Not required for the current study given the open-source nature of the data employed.

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Caswell, J.M. Prevalence of reported high blood pressure in Canada: investigation of demographic and spatial trends. J Public Health 25, 49–59 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-016-0761-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-016-0761-4

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