A heartfelt plea for the revival of a Canadian health coalition dedicated to the prevention and management of hypertension has been put forth in an editorial published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology. Prominent health care leaders are emphasizing the urgent need for a national hypertension control program to combat the risks of death and disability associated with high blood pressure.
The lead author of the editorial, Dr. Norm R.C. Campbell from the Department of Medicine at the University of Calgary, highlights the significant impact of hypertension on mortality rates, citing it as a leading cause of death and disability in Canada and globally. Despite its prevalence, Dr. Campbell stresses that hypertension can be effectively managed with the right interventions.
Dr. Campbell reflects on the previous success of Canada in controlling hypertension, attributing it to the collaborative efforts of Canadian coalitions. He notes that Canada was once at the forefront of hypertension control, thanks to a coordinated approach involving governmental and non-governmental organizations.
The editorial underscores the crucial role played by Canadian coalitions in implementing effective strategies for hypertension prevention and control. In 1986, federal and provincial governments in Canada launched a hypertension strategy that called for the establishment of a coalition to oversee the implementation of these initiatives.
However, in recent years, the Canadian hypertension control coalition has faltered, leading to a decline in hypertension control rates across the country. Dr. Campbell expresses concern over this trend and advocates for the reinstatement of a national program to address hypertension on a population level.
Dr. Ross Tsuyuki, President of Hypertension Canada, echoes Dr. Campbell’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for renewed efforts in controlling blood pressure to prevent adverse health outcomes. He calls for a collaborative approach involving healthcare providers and government stakeholders to tackle the issue effectively.
Furthermore, Patrice Lindsay from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada highlights the significance of controlling high blood pressure in reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease. She stresses the importance of initiatives that promote early diagnosis, treatment, and management of hypertension to improve patient outcomes.
In light of the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, the World Health Organization’s HEARTS initiative is suggested as a model for Canada to strengthen primary care and prevent NCD-related complications. Dr. Campbell emphasizes the need to shift focus from infectious diseases to NCD prevention and management for better public health outcomes.
Concluding his remarks, Dr. Campbell calls for a collaborative approach to healthcare that leverages global best practices, such as the WHO HEARTS initiative, to address major health challenges in Canada. By seizing the current opportunity to build a stronger healthcare system focused on prevention and control, Canada can improve quality of life, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance overall population health.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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