New data suggests pandemic led to decreased diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) has been a concern for Canadian healthcare practitioners for years. This is the most important risk factor for premature death and disability. Hypertension is growing in prevalence, however, its levels of diagnosis and management are decreasing, which could lead to an enormous cost to patients’ quality of life and the healthcare system.
Shoppers Drug Mart has looked at the data and it suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a reduction in hypertension diagnoses and treatment. For us at Shoppers Drug Mart, this is an early warning sign for potential longer-term risks, like higher rates of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.
Dr. Peter Bafundi, a family practitioner at our The Health Clinic by Shoppers, has noted that,
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“Pre-pandemic, hypertension impacted one-in-four Canadians, growing on pace to hit one-in-three by 2030. At a time when pandemic lifestyle changes – like less movement, more stress, more eating, and increased alcohol consumption – should be driving the number of patients seeking treatment higher, we’ve actually seen a decline. This is a pandemic effect and suggests hundreds of thousands of Canadians simply don’t know that their health needs attention.”
A major factor is that the data indicates in-person physician visits have decreased by up to 79 percent, since March 2020, as Canadians stayed home or avoided healthcare settings. At the same time, up to 30 percent fewer new patients are starting medications generally used to treat hypertension than in the previous years. This trend has improved slightly with relaxed COVID restrictions but a comparison of 2021 and 2019 data suggests nearly one-in-five expected hypertension patients are either not seeking treatment or unaware that they need it. This is an alarming trend that warrants immediate attention.
Shoppers Drug Mart is sharing this data to encourage Canadians to talk to their physician or pharmacist to have their blood pressure checked.