Heart And Stroke Foundation Report Warns: A “Perfect Storm” Of Heart Disease Looming On Our Horizon
TORONTO, Jan. 25 – The Heart and Stroke Foundation’s 2010 Annual Report on Canadians’ Health warns that a “perfect storm” of risk factors and demographic changes are converging to create an unprecedented burden on Canada’s fragmented system of cardiovascular care, and no Canadian young or old will be left unaffected.”In a very short time, the face of heart disease in Canada has changed to include groups that have historically been immune to the threats of heart disease,” says Dr. Beth Abramson, cardiologist and spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. “But the combination of new groups at-risk of heart disease and the explosion of Canadians indulging in unhealthy habits across Canada have accelerated the impact of these threats, which are now converging and erasing the progress we’ve made in treating heart disease over the last 50 years.”
The signs of this impending crisis are clearly evident. Between 1994 and 2005, rates of high blood pressure among Canadians skyrocketed by 77%, diabetes by 45% and obesity by 18% – affecting both younger and older Canadians. Moreover, even younger age groups are experiencing increases in risk: among those 35 to 49 years of age, for example, the prevalence of high blood pressure increased 127%, diabetes by 64% and obesity by 20% – all major risk factors for heart disease.
“Up to this point we’ve had a patchwork quilt of prevention and treatment initiatives aimed at addressing some, but not all, of the risk factors affecting Canadians,” says Stephen Samis, Director of Health Policy, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. “The magnitude of this problem has become so large, the only way forward is to implement a comprehensive, Canadian heart-health strategy that focuses on at-risk and disadvantaged populations, addresses the disparities between provinces and territories and integrates Canada’s fragmented system of cardiac care services.”
The at-risk and disadvantaged populations in Canada include: the unprecedented growing number of young Canadian adults who are obese and overweight; the largest cohort of Boomers (50-64 years) in Canada’s history entering a stage where they are at a higher risk for heart disease; our Aboriginal peoples who are experiencing a full-blown cardiovascular crisis; more women entering their young adult years at higher risk for heart disease, which could overwhelm the healthcare system with an entire new generation of patients; and, some of Canada’s fastest growing ethno-cultural communities who are pre-disposed to a heavier burden of risk factors and heart disease.
The Changing Face of Canada
“The face of heart disease has changed,” says Dr. Marco Di Buono, Director of Research, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. “We can no longer operate under the current stereotypes. In this country, heart disease is not just a disease affecting older, Caucasian males.”
At Risk: Young Canadian Adults
Young people are beginning their adult lives with multiple risk factors for heart disease. Over the past 15 years, Canada has seen significant increases in overweight and obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. It used to be thought that like heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure were “diseases of aging.” These increases will translate into an explosion of heart disease in the next generation.
“There are more than 250,000 young Canadians in their 20s and 30s with high blood pressure. That’s something we could have never imagined a decade ago. It’s almost a doubling in 15 years,” says Stephen Samis. “The real tragedy is that this is largely preventable.”
“Canada is truly at a crossroads,” says Dr. Abramson. “As a society we need to decide if we are going to invest in making our society more heart healthy so we can reduce our future risk, or would we rather continue to pay for a healthcare system overwhelmed by cardiac patients.”
Self Reported Heart-Health Risk Factors, 2007/2008
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