Prevalence: Report from the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System: Hypertension in Canada, 2010
Adults with Diagnosed Hypertension (Prevalence)Footnote 1
- In 2006/07, nearly 6 million Canadians aged 20years and older,Footnote 2 or more than 1 in 5, had diagnosed hypertension (approximately 5.9 million adults; 3.2 million women and 2.7 million men, crude prevalence).
- The prevalence rate of hypertension among Canadians aged 20 years and older was 22.7% in 2006/07 (24.0% for women and 21.3% for men, crude prevalence) (Table 1). This prevalence is consistent but somewhat higher than the self-reported value reported from the 2007/08 Canadian Community Health Survey (19.4%). Self-reported hypertension values may be lower because approximately 5% of people who report drug treatment for hypertension do not report having hypertension in Canadian self-report surveys, possibly because they think that they do not have hypertension or that their hypertension has been cured when their blood pressure is controlled using medication or lifestyle modification.Footnote 13 These surveys also sample only the household population, whereas, CCDSS includes all Canadians residing in the provinces and territories with the previously noted exceptions.
- After accounting for changes in the age distribution in the population over time, the age-standardized prevalence rate of diagnosed hypertension increased from 12.9% in 1998/99 to 19.6% in 2006/07 (Figure 1). One likely contributor to this rise in hypertension prevalence is the decline in mortality among people with hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases, as noted in other studies.Footnote 17 Footnote 18 Large reductions in mortality rates from stroke, heart failure, and acute myocardial infarction were found to be significantly associated with increases in antihypertensive prescriptions, especially after the initiation of the Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP) in 1999, a program developed to improve the management of hypertension.Footnote 18 Before 1999, total antihypertensive prescriptions among Ontarians newly treated for hypertension were increasing by 2% per year, but after 1999 they were increasing at a rate of 10% per year.Footnote 19
- Age-specific prevalence rates were similar between men and women for those under age 50. However, rates for women were increasingly higher than men from age 55 onwards. (Table 2 and Figure 2) This is consistent with other surveys that have found higher rates of hypertension in men in younger ages and higher rates in women in older ages.Footnote 20 Footnote 21
- In Canada, the age-standardized prevalence rates of hypertension were highest in the Atlantic provinces and lowest in the west and north (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and British Columbia) (Figure 3). This is similar to the east-west gradient reported in other studies of obesity and diabetes trends across the country.Footnote 22 Footnote 23 Crude prevalence rates are presented in Table 3.
Figure 1. Age-Standardized Prevalence Rates of Diagnosed Hypertension among People Aged 20 Years and Older, by Sex
Text Equivalent - Figure 1
Age-standardized prevalence rates of diagnosed hypertension among people aged 20 years and older, by sex, from 1998/99 to 2006/07 are presented in Figure 1. Note that data for Nunavut and Québec were unavailable and rates were standardized to the 1991 Canadian population.
After accounting for changes in the age distribution in the population over time, the age-standardized prevalence rate of diagnosed hypertension increased from 12.9% in 1998/99 to 19.6% in 2006/07. For additional information, refer to the first paragraph on page 6.
Figure 2. Prevalence Rates of Diagnosed Hypertension among People Aged 20 Years and Older, by Age Group and Sex
Text Equivalent - Figure 2
Prevalence rates of diagnosed hypertension among people aged 20 years and older, by age group and sex are presented in Figure 2 for the year 2006/07. Note that data for Nunavut and Québec were unavailable.
Age-specific prevalence rates were similar between men and women for those under age 50. However, rates for women were increasingly higher than men from age 55 onwards. For additional information, refer to the second paragraph on page 6.
Figure 3. Age-Standardized Prevalence Rates of Diagnosed Hypertension among People Aged 20 Years and Older
Text Equivalent - Figure 3
Age-standardized prevalence rates of diagnosed hypertension among people aged 20 years and older, by sex, province and territory are presented in Figure 3 for the year 2006/07. Note that data for Nunavut and Québec were unavailable and rates were standardized to the 1991 Canadian population.
In Canada, the age-standardized prevalence rates of hypertension were highest in the Atlantic provinces and lowest in the west and north (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and British Columbia). For additional information, refer to the third paragraph on page 6.
| Fiscal Year | Prevalence Rate (%) | Incidence Rate (per 1,000) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women | Men | Total | Women | Men | Total | ||
| 1998/99 | Crude Rates | 15.3 | 12.3 | 13.8 | 25.6 | 22.1 | 23.8 |
| Cases | 1,781,304 | 1,365,617 | 3,146,921 | 258,613 | 219,782 | 478,396 | |
| Population | 11,645,517 | 11,088,924 | 22,734,441 | 10,122,826 | 9,943,090 | 20,065,916 | |
| 1999/00 | Crude Rates | 16.8 | 13.7 | 15.3 | 25.2 | 22.4 | 23.8 |
| Cases | 1,984,800 | 1,541,232 | 3,526,032 | 253,673 | 221,841 | 475,514 | |
| Population | 11,794,275 | 11,238,530 | 23,032,805 | 10,063,148 | 9,919,139 | 19,982,286 | |
| 2000/01 | Crude Rates | 18.3 | 15.1 | 16.7 | 25.6 | 23.2 | 24.4 |
| Cases | 2,185,146 | 1,720,683 | 3,905,830 | 257,052 | 230,727 | 487,779 | |
| Population | 11,968,953 | 11,419,133 | 23,388,086 | 10,040,859 | 9,929,176 | 19,970,035 | |
| 2001/02 | Crude Rates | 19.5 | 16.3 | 18.0 | 25.1 | 23.1 | 24.1 |
| Cases | 2,375,007 | 1,894,157 | 4,269,164 | 252,047 | 229,238 | 481,284 | |
| Population | 12,157,311 | 11,609,975 | 23,767,286 | 10,034,351 | 9,945,055 | 19,979,406 | |
| 2002/03 | Crude Rates | 20.7 | 17.5 | 19.1 | 24.8 | 22.9 | 23.9 |
| Cases | 2,555,268 | 2,061,378 | 4,616,647 | 249,154 | 228,254 | 477,408 | |
| Population | 12,341,930 | 11,792,606 | 24,134,536 | 10,035,816 | 9,959,482 | 19,995,297 | |
| 2003/04 | Crude Rates | 21.7 | 18.5 | 20.2 | 24.1 | 22.5 | 23.3 |
| Cases | 2,723,285 | 2,220,505 | 4,943,790 | 241,987 | 224,521 | 466,509 | |
| Population | 12,537,082 | 11,996,925 | 24,534,007 | 10,055,784 | 10,000,941 | 20,056,726 | |
| 2004/05 | Crude Rates | 22.6 | 19.5 | 21.1 | 23.2 | 22.4 | 22.8 |
| Cases | 2,877,956 | 2,375,826 | 5,253,782 | 233,435 | 225,121 | 458,557 | |
| Population | 12,729,881 | 12,189,561 | 24,919,442 | 10,085,360 | 10,038,856 | 20,124,217 | |
| 2005/06 | Crude Rates | 23.4 | 20.4 | 22.0 | 22.7 | 22.8 | 22.7 |
| Cases | 3,025,193 | 2,532,606 | 5,557,799 | 229,887 | 229,974 | 459,860 | |
| Population | 12,930,898 | 12,387,986 | 25,318,884 | 10,135,592 | 10,085,353 | 20,220,945 | |
| 2006/07 | Crude Rates | 24.0 | 21.3 | 22.7 | 21.6 | 22.7 | 22.1 |
| Cases | 3,161,283 | 2,687,181 | 5,848,464 | 220,128 | 229,900 | 450,029 | |
| Population | 13,152,159 | 12,601,762 | 25,753,921 | 10,211,005 | 10,144,481 | 20,355,486 | |
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada, using CCDSS data files contributed by provinces and territories as of September, 2009.
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Text Equivalent - Table 1
Crude prevalence and incidence rates as well as the number of cases of diagnosed hypertension by year and sex, from 1998/99 to 2006/07, are presented in Table 1. Note that data for Nunavut and Québec were unavailable. However, for this analysis, the number of cases for Québec was estimated by applying the Canadian age-specific rates of diagnosed hypertension weighted to the Québec population.
The prevalence rate of hypertension among Canadians aged 20 years and older was 22.7% in 2006/07 (24.0% for women and 21.3% for men, crude prevalence). For additional information, refer to the last paragraph on page 5.
In 2006/07, 450,029 adults were newly diagnosed with hypertension (22.1 per 1,000 population aged 20 years and older, 21.6 per 1,000 women and 22.7 per 1,000 men).
| Age Group | Prevalence Rate (%) | Incidence Rate (per 1,000) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women | Men | Total | Women | Men | Total | ||
| 20 to 24 | Crude Rates | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
| Cases | 6,049 | 6,811 | 12,859 | 1,968 | 2,552 | 4,520 | |
| Population | 1,118,706 | 1,154,031 | 2,272,737 | 1,114,625 | 1,149,772 | 2,264,398 | |
| 25 to 29 | Crude Rates | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 3.3 |
| Cases | 19,849 | 20,150 | 39,999 | 3,339 | 3,998 | 7,337 | |
| Population | 1,136,351 | 1,131,680 | 2,268,031 | 1,119,841 | 1,115,528 | 2,235,369 | |
| 30 to 34 | Crude Rates | 3.3 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 6.3 | 5.6 |
| Cases | 38,209 | 42,285 | 80,494 | 5,326 | 7,021 | 12,348 | |
| Population | 1,149,220 | 1,144,965 | 2,294,185 | 1,116,337 | 1,109,702 | 2,226,039 | |
| 35 to 39 | Crude Rates | 5.4 | 6.2 | 5.8 | 7.8 | 10.2 | 9.0 |
| Cases | 66,168 | 77,056 | 143,223 | 9,132 | 11,900 | 21,032 | |
| Population | 1,231,521 | 1,237,898 | 2,469,419 | 1,174,485 | 1,172,742 | 2,347,227 | |
| 40 to 44 | Crude Rates | 8.9 | 9.9 | 9.4 | 13.2 | 15.2 | 14.2 |
| Cases | 125,456 | 141,165 | 266,621 | 17,036 | 19,742 | 36,778 | |
| Population | 1,404,160 | 1,419,310 | 2,823,470 | 1,295,740 | 1,297,887 | 2,593,627 | |
| 45 to 49 | Crude Rates | 14.6 | 15.4 | 15.0 | 20.3 | 22.2 | 21.3 |
| Cases | 204,370 | 215,809 | 420,179 | 24,828 | 26,955 | 51,783 | |
| Population | 1,400,517 | 1,404,849 | 2,805,366 | 1,220,975 | 1,215,995 | 2,436,970 | |
| 50 to 54 | Crude Rates | 23.1 | 23.2 | 23.1 | 29.3 | 31.8 | 30.5 |
| Cases | 287,059 | 285,892 | 572,951 | 28,898 | 31,152 | 60,050 | |
| Population | 1,244,669 | 1,234,522 | 2,479,191 | 986,508 | 979,782 | 1,966,290 | |
| 55 to 59 | Crude Rates | 33.6 | 33.0 | 33.3 | 38.8 | 42.9 | 40.9 |
| Cases | 365,949 | 354,998 | 720,947 | 29,223 | 32,340 | 61,563 | |
| Population | 1,089,324 | 1,075,714 | 2,165,038 | 752,599 | 753,055 | 1,505,654 | |
| 60 to 64 | Crude Rates | 44.0 | 42.8 | 43.4 | 52.5 | 57.6 | 55.0 |
| Cases | 368,882 | 350,900 | 719,782 | 26,012 | 28,619 | 54,631 | |
| Population | 838,580 | 819,559 | 1,658,139 | 495,710 | 497,278 | 992,988 | |
| 65 to 69 | Crude Rates | 54.6 | 51.9 | 53.3 | 68.8 | 70.6 | 69.7 |
| Cases | 359,115 | 320,562 | 679,678 | 22,079 | 22,568 | 44,648 | |
| Population | 657,957 | 617,542 | 1,275,499 | 320,921 | 319,548 | 640,469 | |
| 70 to 74 | Crude Rates | 63.8 | 59.9 | 61.9 | 82.6 | 78.9 | 80.8 |
| Cases | 363,189 | 304,282 | 667,471 | 18,580 | 17,485 | 36,065 | |
| Population | 569,572 | 508,323 | 1,077,895 | 224,963 | 221,526 | 446,489 | |
| 75 to 79 | Crude Rates | 70.4 | 65.4 | 68.2 | 92.2 | 85.6 | 89.0 |
| Cases | 355,346 | 263,909 | 619,255 | 15,162 | 13,072 | 28,235 | |
| Population | 504,721 | 403,535 | 908,256 | 164,537 | 152,698 | 317,235 | |
| 80 to 84 | Crude Rates | 75.1 | 68.8 | 72.6 | 93.7 | 86.9 | 90.7 |
| Cases | 304,933 | 181,092 | 486,025 | 10,462 | 7,803 | 18,265 | |
| Population | 406,117 | 263,105 | 669,222 | 111,646 | 89,817 | 201,463 | |
| 85+ | Crude Rates | 74.0 | 65.5 | 71.3 | 72.1 | 67.9 | 70.5 |
| Cases | 296,709 | 122,271 | 418,979 | 8,082 | 4,693 | 12,775 | |
| Population | 400,744 | 186,729 | 587,473 | 112,117 | 69,151 | 181,268 | |
| Total | Crude Rates | 24.0 | 21.3 | 22.7 | 21.6 | 22.7 | 22.1 |
| Cases | 3,161,283 | 2,687,182 | 5,848,465 | 220,128 | 229,900 | 450,028 | |
| Population | 13,152,159 | 12,601,762 | 25,753,921 | 10,211,005 | 10,144,481 | 20,355,486 | |
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada, using CCDSS data files contributed by provinces and territories as of September, 2009.
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Text Equivalent - Table 2
Crude prevalence and incidence rates as well as the number of cases of diagnosed hypertension by sex and age group are presented in Table 2 for the year 2006/07. Note that data for Nunavut and Québec were unavailable. However, for this analysis, the number of cases for Québec was estimated by applying the Canadian age-specific rates of diagnosed hypertension weighted to the Québec population.
Age-specific prevalence rates were similar between men and women for those under age 50. However, rates for women were increasingly higher than men from age 55 onwards.
| Province/Territory | Prevalence Rate (%) | Incidence Rate (per 1,000) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women | Men | Total | Women | Men | Total | ||
| YT | Crude Rates | 17.3 | 17.0 | 17.1 | 28.4 | 30.0 | 29.2 |
| Cases | 2,135 | 2,162 | 4,297 | 299 | 327 | 626 | |
| Population | 12,367 | 12,739 | 25,106 | 10,531 | 10,904 | 21,435 | |
| NT | Crude Rates | 13.0 | 12.9 | 12.9 | 14.6 | 16.1 | 15.4 |
| Cases | 2,012 | 2,160 | 4,172 | 200 | 239 | 439 | |
| Population | 15,474 | 16,782 | 32,256 | 13,662 | 14,861 | 28,523 | |
| BC | Crude Rates | 22.5 | 20.3 | 21.4 | 22.9 | 24.3 | 23.6 |
| Cases | 385,332 | 333,112 | 718,444 | 31,143 | 32,598 | 63,741 | |
| Population | 1,712,349 | 1,639,990 | 3,352,339 | 1,358,160 | 1,339,476 | 2,697,636 | |
| AB | Crude Rates | 20.6 | 18.7 | 19.6 | 18.6 | 20.8 | 19.7 |
| Cases | 263,410 | 235,205 | 498,615 | 19,291 | 21,793 | 41,084 | |
| Population | 1,281,442 | 1,261,103 | 2,542,545 | 1,037,323 | 1,047,691 | 2,085,014 | |
| SK | Crude Rates | 26.8 | 22.9 | 24.9 | 22.0 | 23.5 | 22.8 |
| Cases | 102,865 | 84,983 | 187,848 | 6,315 | 6,888 | 13,203 | |
| Population | 383,915 | 370,939 | 754,854 | 287,365 | 292,844 | 580,209 | |
| MB | Crude Rates | 25.7 | 22.0 | 23.9 | 21.5 | 23.4 | 22.4 |
| Cases | 116,654 | 95,111 | 211,765 | 7,410 | 8,096 | 15,506 | |
| Population | 454,193 | 432,843 | 887,036 | 344,949 | 345,828 | 690,777 | |
| ON | Crude Rates | 23.7 | 21.4 | 22.6 | 20.6 | 21.5 | 21.0 |
| Cases | 1,254,002 | 1,087,005 | 2,341,007 | 84,870 | 87,653 | 172,523 | |
| Population | 5,295,333 | 5,070,185 | 10,365,518 | 4,126,201 | 4,070,833 | 8,197,034 | |
| NB | Crude Rates | 27.8 | 23.7 | 25.8 | 24.3 | 25.6 | 24.9 |
| Cases | 84,281 | 67,938 | 152,219 | 5,447 | 5,737 | 11,184 | |
| Population | 303,167 | 286,259 | 589,426 | 224,333 | 224,058 | 448,391 | |
| NS | Crude Rates | 29.6 | 25.6 | 27.7 | 24.9 | 26.3 | 25.6 |
| Cases | 117,346 | 93,801 | 211,147 | 7,105 | 7,375 | 14,480 | |
| Population | 396,074 | 367,022 | 763,096 | 285,833 | 280,596 | 566,429 | |
| PE | Crude Rates | 27.3 | 23.0 | 25.2 | 22.8 | 24.9 | 23.9 |
| Cases | 15,381 | 12,216 | 27,597 | 958 | 1,044 | 2,002 | |
| Population | 56,363 | 53,094 | 109,457 | 41,940 | 41,922 | 83,862 | |
| NL | Crude Rates | 29.4 | 27.3 | 28.4 | 31.1 | 33.0 | 32.0 |
| Cases | 60,477 | 52,529 | 113,006 | 4,649 | 4,780 | 9,429 | |
| Population | 205,433 | 192,676 | 398,109 | 149,605 | 144,927 | 294,532 | |
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada, using CCDSS data files contributed by provinces and territories as of September, 2009.
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Text Equivalent - Table 3
Crude prevalence and incidence rates as well as the number of cases of diagnosed hypertension by sex, province and territory are presented in Table 3 for the year 2006/07. Note that data for Nunavut and Québec were unavailable. For additional information, refer to figures 3 and 9 which present respectively age-standardized prevalence and incidence rates by province and territory for year 2006/07.
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