The Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP) 2011 guidelines for pharmacists

摘要

Hypertension continues to be a common chronic disease affecting 1 in 5 adult Canadians. New data suggest that Canada has the highest reported rates of hypertension awareness, treatment and control, yet one-third of patients with hypertension in Canada remain uncontrolled and at risk of complications such as heart attack, stroke and heart failure. Importantly, in the high-risk group of patients with diabetes and hypertension, two-thirds are not controlled. As a highly accessible health professional, there is a public health need to have pharmacists take a proactive, responsible role in the management of hypertension. Indeed, there is strong evidence for pharmacists improving the care of people with hypertension. The 2011 Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP) guidelines represent the 12th annual update to these guidelines and are available in full in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology or on the Hypertension Canada website (www. hypertension.ca). This is the 6th update of pharmacist-specific guidelines for the management of hypertension.