Search

Background: Hospitalizations for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions (ACSCs) represent an indirect measure of access and quality of community care. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between one ACSC, uncomplicated hypertension, and previous primary care physician (PCP) utilization., Methods: A cohort of patients with hypertension was identified using administrative databases in Alberta between fiscal years 1994 and 2008. We applied the Canadian Institute for Health Information's case definition to detect patients with uncomplicated hypertension as the most responsible reason for hospitalization and/or Emergency Department (ED) visit. We assessed hypertension-related and all-cause PCP visits., Results: The overall adjusted rate of ACSC hospitalizations and ED visits for uncomplicated hypertension was 7.1 and 13.9 per 10,000 hypertensive patients, respectively. The likelihood of ACSC hospitalization for uncomplicated hypertension was associated with age, household income quintile, region of residence, and Charlson comorbidity status (all P < 0.0001). The adjusted rate of ACSC hospitalizations for uncomplicated hypertension increased from 4.8 per 10,000 hypertensive patients for those without hypertension-related PCP visits before diagnosis to 10.5 per 10,000 hypertensive patients for those with 5 or more hypertension-related PCP visits. The rate of ACSC hospitalizations and/or ED visits for uncomplicated hypertension increased as the number of hypertension-related PCP visits increased even after stratifying according to demographic and clinical characteristics., Conclusions: As the frequency of hypertension-related PCP visits increased, the rate of ACSC hospitalizations and/or ED visits for uncomplicated hypertension increased. This suggests that ACSC hospitalization for uncomplicated hypertension might not be a particularly good indicator for access to primary care., (Copyright © 2014 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) represent an indirect measure of access and quality of community care. This study explored hospitalization rates for 1 ACSC, uncomplicated hypertension, and the factors associated with hospitalization., Methods: A cohort of patients with incident hypertension, and their covariates, was defined using validated case definitions applied to International Classification of Disease administrative health data in 4 Canadian provinces between fiscal years 1997 and 2004. We applied the Canadian Institute for Health Information's case definition to detect all patients who had an ACSC hospitalization for uncomplicated hypertension. We employed logistic regression to assess factors associated with an ACSC hospitalization for uncomplicated hypertension., Results: The overall rate of hospitalizations for uncomplicated hypertension in the 4 provinces was 3.7 per 1000 hypertensive patients. The risk-adjusted rate was lowest among those in an urban setting (2.6 per 1000; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-2.7), the highest income quintile (3.4 per 1000; 95% CI, 2.8-4.2), and those with no comorbidities (3.6 per 1000; 95% CI, 3.2-3.9). Overall, Newfoundland had the highest adjusted rate (5.7 per 1000; 95% CI, 4.9-6.7), and British Columbia had the lowest (3.7 per 1000; 95% CI, 3.4-4.2). The adjusted rate declined from 5.9 per 1000 in 1997 to 3.7 per 1000 in 2004., Conclusions: We found that the rate of hospitalizations for uncomplicated hypertension has decreased over time, which might reflect improvements in community care. Geographic variations in the rate of hospitalizations indicate disparity among the provinces and those residing in rural regions., (Copyright © 2013 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: This population-based study assessed rates of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke for up to 12 years of follow-up in 3.5 million Canadian adults newly diagnosed with hypertension., Methods: Hypertension cohort, outcomes, and covariates were defined using validated case definitions applied to inpatient and outpatient administrative health databases. Factors associated with each outcome were identified using Cox proportional hazards models., Results: Of 3,531,089 adults newly diagnosed with hypertension and without a previous history of cardiovascular disease, 29.4% were younger than 50 years of age; 48.2% were male, and 17.2% resided in a rural area. Over a median follow-up length of 6.1 years, the crude all-cause mortality rate was 22.4 per 1000 person-years. The incidence of hospitalized myocardial infarction (8.4 per 1000 person-years) and hospitalized heart failure (8.5 per 1000 person-years) was higher than stroke (6.9 per 1000 person-years). The incidence rate for any cardiovascular hospitalization was 19.3 per 1000 person-years. Older age, male sex, lower income, rural residence, and a higher number of Charlson comorbidities were each independently associated with a higher risk of mortality and incident cardiovascular disease hospitalizations., Conclusions: In a nationally-representative incident cohort of hypertensive adults we have demonstrated higher mortality rates and poorer outcomes for the elderly, males, and those living in rural or low income locations. Innovative approaches to the provision of care for these high-risk individuals will lead to improved patient outcomes., (Copyright © 2013 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Some of the greatest barriers to achieving blood pressure control are perceived to be failure to prescribe antihypertensive medication and lack of adherence to medication prescriptions., Methods: Self-reported data from 6017 Canadians with diagnosed hypertension who responded to the 2008 Canadian Community Health Survey and the 2009 Survey on Living with Chronic Diseases in Canada were examined., Results: The majority (82%) of individuals with diagnosed hypertension reported using antihypertensive medications. The main reasons for not taking medications were either that they were not prescribed (42%) or that blood pressure had been controlled without medications (45%). Of those not taking antihypertensive medications in 2008 (n = 963), 18% had started antihypertensive medications by 2009, and of those initially taking medications (n = 5058), 5% had stopped. Of those taking medications in 2009, 89% indicated they took the medication as prescribed, and 10% indicated they occasionally missed a dose. Participants who were recently diagnosed, not measuring blood pressure at home, not having a plan to control blood pressure, or not receiving instructions on how to take medications were less likely to be taking antihypertensive medications; similar factors tended to be associated with stopping antihypertensive medication use., Conclusions: Compatible with high rates of hypertension control, most Canadians diagnosed with hypertension take antihypertensive medications and report adherence. Widespread implementation of self-management strategies for blood pressure control and standardized instructions on antihypertensive medication may further optimize drug treatment., (Copyright © 2012 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. All rights reserved.)

Background: Little is known regarding potential differences in antihypertensive prescribing practices at a Canadian provincial level. Our objective was to determine provincial differences in the use of antihypertensive drug therapy in Canada., Methods: Using longitudinal drug data (IMS CompuScript database; IMS Health Canada), we examined the increase in number of prescriptions dispensed for all antihypertensive agents for each province over an 11-year period (1996-2006)., Results: Over the 11-year study period, antihypertensive prescriptions increased by 106.2% for single-drug therapy (from 35.8% in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland to 167.2% in British Columbia) and by 112.8% (from 22.0% in New Brunswick to 216.0% in Québec) for combination-drug therapy. Among drug classifications, angiotensin receptor blockers had the largest increase for single-drug therapy and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors-diuretics for combination-drug therapy. There were marked provincial differences in the increase in total antihypertensive therapy, ranging from British Columbia, with an increase of 262%, to Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, where the increase was 134%., Conclusion: Large increases in antihypertensive prescriptions occurred in all provinces of Canada, but the provinces varied substantially in the increase in total and drug-specific classes of antihypertensive drugs. The basis for provincial differences in antihypertensive prescriptions remains unknown and is likely multifactorial but may relate in part to initial provincial variations in diagnosis, treatment, and control of hypertension, as well as individual provincial drug policies., (Copyright © 2011 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Health professionals play an important role in providing health information to patients. The objectives of this study were to examine the type of advice that Canadians with hypertension recall receiving from health professionals to manage their condition, and to assess if there is an association between health behaviour advice provided by health professionals and self-reported engagement in health behaviour modification., Methods: Respondents of the 2009 Survey on Living with Chronic Diseases in Canada (N = 6142) were asked about sociodemographic characteristics, health care utilization, and health behaviour modification to control hypertension. Association between receipt of advice from health professional and ever engaging, continuing to engage, and not engaging in health behaviour modification was quantified by prevalence rate ratios., Results: Most participants (90.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 89.6-92.2) reported that the health professional most responsible for treating their high blood pressure was their general practitioner. Approximately 9% reported that they had not received or do not recall receiving any advice for blood pressure control. The most commonly reported advice received from a health professional was to participate in physical activity or exercise (70.0%). Respondents who had received advice on health behaviour change to manage their high blood pressure were more likely to report engaging in the behaviour compared with those who did not receive such advice., Conclusions: Many Canadians with hypertension receive health behaviour change advice from their health professionals. Receiving this advice was associated with a greater likelihood of attempting health behaviour change and attempting to sustain that change., (Copyright © 2011 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. All rights reserved.)

Background: Canadians with hypertension are recommended to use home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) on a regular basis., Objectives: To characterize the use of HBPM among Canadian adults with hypertension., Methods: Respondents to the 2009 Survey on Living with Chronic Diseases in Canada who reported diagnosis of hypertension by a health professional (n=6142) were asked about blood pressure monitoring practices, sociodemographic characteristics, management of hypertension and blood pressure control., Results: Among Canadian adults with hypertension, 45.9% (95% CI 43.5% to 48.3%) monitor their own blood pressure at home, 29.7% (95% CI 41.1% to 46.3%) receive health professional instruction and 35.9% (95% CI 33.5% to 38.4%) share the results with their health professional. However, fewer than one in six Canadian adults diagnosed with hypertension monitor their own blood pressure at home regularly, with health professional instruction, and communicate results to a health professional. Regular HBPM was more likely among older adults (45 years of age and older); individuals who believed they had a plan for how to control their blood pressure; and those who had been shown how to perform HBPM by a health professional - with the latter factor most strongly associated with regular HBPM (prevalence rate ratio 2.8; 95% CI 2.4 to 3.4)., Conclusions: Although many Canadians with hypertension measure their blood pressure between health care professional visits, a minority do so according to current recommendations. More effective knowledge translation strategies are required to support self-management of hypertension through home measurement of blood pressure.

While there have been substantive efforts to improve treatment and control of hypertension in Canada, many individuals with hypertension remain unaware of their condition and many health care professionals are unaware of key hypertension management recommendations. The present article reviews the new Canadian strategic direction for increased knowledge translation and dissemination of information to patients and health care professionals by providing new, innovative and easily accessible resources for hypertension education in Canada. A multitude of resources that address the diverse learning needs of health care professionals and the general public are highlighted.

Background: Hypertension is one of the most common medical conditions complicating pregnancy, and is a major contributor to maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in Canada., Objectives: To determine the incidence and trends of gestational hypertension among pregnant women in the Calgary Health Region of Alberta., Methods: Gestational hypertension was classified according to current published Canadian guidelines: without proteinuria and with proteinuria. Hospital discharge abstracts were used to identify women diagnosed with gestational hypertension in the Calgary Health Region between January 1995 and December 2004. The Birth Registry of Vital Statistics was used to determine the number of live births and stillbirths in the Calgary Health Region during the study period. Incidence was calculated with 95% CIs. Age-standardized gestational hypertension rates were calculated using 2004 live births and stillbirths as the reference., Results: Over the 10-year period, the incidence of nonproteinuric gestational hypertension was relatively stable even after age adjustment, with an average incidence of 6.3% (95% CI 6.1% to 6.4%). When gestational hypertension was stratified by age, women aged 35 years or older had an almost twofold higher incidence of both nonproteinuric and proteinuric gestational hypertension than those younger than 35 years of age., Conclusions: Interventions to prevent and improve the management of gestational hypertension, particularly among women aged 35 years and older, are required.