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Prevalence, incidence, awareness and control of hypertension in the province of Quebec: Perspective from administrative and survey data

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Nearly one adult in four was diagnosed with hypertension in 2007–2008 in Canada. One of the objectives of this study was to determine whether the prevalence of hypertension in Quebec as assessed using administrative data is comparable to that specifically measured, especially for the elderly population.

METHODS: Trends in prevalence, incidence and mortality were examined using the Quebec Integrated Chronic Disease Surveillance System built from grouping numerous administrative databases from 1996–1997 to 2009–2010. Blood pressure measurements, hypertension prevalence, awareness and control were obtained in 1,706 Quebecers in the combined cycles of the Canadian Health Measures Survey.

RESULTS: Using administrative databases, 23.6% [95% confidence interval, 23.5–23.6] of the Quebec population (n=1,433,400) aged >20 years was diagnosed with hypertension in 2009–2010, an increase of 32.1 % compared to 2000–2001. The incidence decreased by 27.3%. Among people aged >65 years, the prevalence rose to 69.0% [95% CI: 68.8–69.2] in women and 61.7% [95% CI: 61.5–61.9] in men. For people aged 20–79 years, the prevalence of hypertension was lower with the administrative data compared to the survey (20.2% and 23.1 %, respectively). The level of awareness, treatment and control were 84.3%, 83.1% and 67.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hypertension derived from administrative data is comparable to that obtained with a health measured survey. Elderly women (>65 years) are a very high-risk subgroup. The levels of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in Quebec are very high.

Résumé

OBJECTIFS: L’hypertension artérielle est un facteur de risque majeur des maladies cardiovasculaires. Près d’un adulte sur quatre a été diagnostiqué hypertendu en 2007–2008, au Canada. Un des objectifs de cette étude était de déterminer si la prévalence de l’hypertension au Québec obtenue à partir de données médico-administratives est comparable à celle mesurée, en particulier chez les personnes âgées.

METHODES: Les tendances de la prévalence, de l’incidence et de la mortalité ont été examinées avec le Système Intégré de Surveillance des Maladies Chroniques du Québec regroupant de nombreuses bases de données médico-administratives de 1996–1997 à 2009–2010. Des mesures de pression artérielle, de prévalence d’hypertension, de conscience et de contrôle ont été obtenus chez 1 706 Québécois dans les cycles combinés de l’Enquête canadienne sur les mesures de la santé.

RÉSULTATS: En utilisant les données médico-administratives, 23,6 % [Intervalle de confiance à 95%, 23,5–23,6] de la population du Québec (n=1 433 400) âgés de ≥20 ans a été diagnostiqué hypertendue en 2009–2010, ce qui représente une augmentation de 32,1 % comparativement à 2000–2001. L’incidence a diminué de 27,3 %. Parmi les personnes âgées de ≥65 ans, cette prévalence est passée à 69,0 % [IC à 95%, 68,8–69,2] chez les femmes et à 61,7 % [IC à 95%, 61,5–61,9] chez les hommes. Pour les personnes âgées de 20–79 ans, la prévalence de l’hypertension était inférieure avec les données médico-administratives comparativement à celles avec l’enquête (20,2 % et 23,1 %, respectivement). Les niveaux de conscience, traitement et de contrôle étaient de 84,3 %, 83,1 % et 67,9 %, respectivement.

CONCLUSION: La prévalence de l’hypertension provenant des données médico-administratives est comparable à celle obtenue avec une enquête des mesures de la santé. Les femmes âgées (≥65 ans) sont un sous-groupe à risque très élevé. Les niveaux de conscience, de traitement et de contrôle de l’hypertension au Québec sont très élevés.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, QC, 945, avenue Wolfe, G1V SB3, Canada

    Claudia Blais PhD, Louis Rochette MSc & Denis Hamel MSc

  2. Faculté de pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada

    Claudia Blais PhD & Paul Poirier MD, PhD

  3. Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada

    Paul Poirier MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Claudia Blais PhD
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  2. Louis Rochette MSc
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  3. Denis Hamel MSc
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  4. Paul Poirier MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Claudia Blais PhD.

Additional information

Funding Sources: This research was partly funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Dr. Paul Poirier is a senior clinical researcher of the Fonds de recherche en santé du Québec.

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Blais, C., Rochette, L., Hamel, D. et al. Prevalence, incidence, awareness and control of hypertension in the province of Quebec: Perspective from administrative and survey data. Can J Public Health 105, e79–e85 (2014). https://doi.org/10.17269/cjph.105.4123

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/cjph.105.4123

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