Monitoring cardiovascular disease in Métis Citizens across Ontario, 2012-2020

Background — Population-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.

Methods — Under a data governance and sharing agreement between the MNO and ICES, registered MNO citizens aged ≥ 20 years 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.

Results — Age-adjusted prevalence rates of hypertension decreased, and 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 female citizens, by 12% from 28.9 per 100 (confidence interval [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 male citizens 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 male citizens, those of advanced age, and those living in areas within the lowest income quintile.

Conclusions — This study is the first in nearly 10 years to investigate trends in cardiovascular outcomes among MNO citizens. Understanding this burden is critical to the MNO’s ability to guide program and policy planning, as well as to advocate within and beyond the health system for Métis-specific needs.