Monitoring Cardiovascular Disease in Métis Citizens Across Ontario, 2012-2020

BackgroundPopulation-based analyses of Métis-specific health outcomes in Canada are limited. This study aimed to address this gap and examine cardiovascular disease outcomes in citizens of the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) over a 9-year period.MethodsUnder a data governance and sharing agreement between the MNO and ICES, registered MNO citizens 20 years and older were linked to administrative health data in Ontario. Existing algorithms were used to determine the burden of heart failure and hypertension. In the most recent year, prevalence rates were compared for income quintiles, age and sex.ResultsAge-adjusted prevalence rates of hypertension decreased while age-adjusted prevalence rates of heart failure increased in MNO citizens from 2012 to 2020. A larger decrease in prevalence of hypertension was observed for females by 12% from 28.9 per 100 (CI: 27.6-30.2) in 2012 to 25.4 per 100 (CI: 24.5-26.3) in 2020. As for heart failure, the age-adjusted prevalence rates for males had the largest increase by 47% from 2.6 per 100 (CI: 2.1-3.1) in 2012 to 3.8 per 100 (CI: 3.3-4.2) in 2020. Hypertension and heart failure were more prevalent in males, those of advanced age, and living in areas within the lowest income quintile.ConclusionThis is the first study in nearly 10 years to investigate trends in cardiovascular outcomes among MNO citizens. Understanding this burden is critical for the MNO to guide program and policy planning, as well as advocacy within and beyond the health system for Métis-specific needs.