Comparison of diagnosed, self-reported, and physically-measured hypertension in Canada.

Background: Hypertension is a substantial health concern because it poses significant risks for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and is highly prevalent in the population. Tracking hypertension is important because it is a risk factor for other conditions, but prevalence estimates might vary depending on the data source used.

Methods: This report describes 3 national population-based data sources for estimating hypertension prevalence in Canada and discusses their strengths and weaknesses to aid in their use for policy and program planning.