Heart and Stroke Foundation report warns: A "Perfect storm" of heart disease
looming on our horizon
"In a very short time, the face of heart disease in
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
The at-risk and disadvantaged populations in
The Changing Face of
"The face of heart disease has changed," says
At Risk: Young Canadian Adults
Young people are beginning their adult lives with multiple risk factors for heart disease. Over the past 15 years,
"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."
"
Self Reported Heart-Health Risk Factors, 2007/2008
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Heart-Health 20-34 years 35-44 years 45-64 years
Risk Factors Number Number Number
(men and women) (% of age group) (% of age group) (% of age group)
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Physical
inactivity 3,073,677 (47.0%) 2,536,847 (52.9%) 4,634,481 (52.8%)
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Overweight/obese 2,520,852 (40.5%) 2,402,101 (51.5%) 5,005,943 (58.2%)
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Smoking 1,922,684 (29.0%) 1,240,458 (25.6%) 2,062,001 (23.1%)
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High blood
pressure 164,431 ( 2.5%) 343,638 ( 7.1%) 2,043,771 (22.9%)
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Diabetes 66,430 ( 1.0%) 130,563 ( 2.7%) 745,820 ( 8.3%)
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Source: 2007/08 Canadian Community Health Survey
Among those 20 to 34 years of age, 3 million are inactive, 2.5 million obese, 2 million smoke, 164,000 have high blood pressure and 66,000 have diabetes. "It's disturbing to see younger Canadians with so many risk factors for heart disease and stroke," says
Although Canadians are slightly more active, more Canadians are becoming overweight and obese, beginning in childhood and carrying over to their 20s and 30s. Moreover, current rates of overweight and obesity are based upon self-reported data. When people are measured directly, the prevalence of overweight is typically much higher.
Overall smoking rates are down, but it is disturbing that 20-year-olds continue to be Canada's heaviest smokers. They are setting themselves up for poor long-term health effects - it can take up to 15 years to reverse the damage caused by smoking. "We know that if a young person comes into hospital with a heart attack, they are more likely to be a smoker," says
At Risk: The Aging Population - Canadian Boomers and Beyond
In 2006, the Heart and Stroke Foundation warned about Boomers' poor heart health. Four years later, one in five adults 50 to 64 years of age has two or more of the major risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and obesity.
"For decades the Heart and Stroke Foundation has funded innovative, life-saving research delaying premature death from heart disease," says
Further, by 2021 the number of older Canadians 65+ at higher risk for heart disease because of their age will increase to:
- Almost one in four residents of Newfoundland and Labrador
- One in five in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,
Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia
- One in six in Alberta and Yukon
- One in 10 in the Northwest Territories (a 130% increase)
- One in 20 in Nunavut (a 77% increase since 2005)
Anticipated Growth in the Canadian Population Ages 65 and Over,
2005 to 2021
---------------------------------------------------
% of population ages 65 and over
---------------------------------
2005 2021 Relative
Increase
---------------------------------
CANADA 13.1 17.8 35.9%
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NFLD/LAB 13.1 23.1 76.3%
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PEI 14.1 21.3 51.1%
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NS 14.2 22.0 54.9%
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NB 13.9 22.2 59.7%
---------------------------------------------------
QUE 13.8 20.4 47.8%
---------------------------------------------------
ONT 12.8 17.6 37.5%
---------------------------------------------------
MAN 13.5 17.6 30.4%
---------------------------------------------------
SASK 14.8 19.7 33.1%
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ALTA 10.5 16.3 55.2%
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BC 13.8 19.6 42.0%
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YUKON 6.9 15.9 130.4%
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NWT 4.7 10.8 129.8%
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NUNAVUT 2.6 4.6 76.9%
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Source: Statistics Canada
At Risk: Canada's Aboriginal peoples
Current data suggest that on-reserve First Nations people have far worse overall cardiovascular health than the general Canadian population, and it is suspected that off-reserve Aboriginal peoples are similarly affected.
"This is an embarrassment for all Canadians," says Stephen Samis. "Our Aboriginal peoples are experiencing a cardiovascular crisis. Plus, there are still significant gaps in our knowledge and management of Aboriginal heart health."
With the exception of Nunavut (where 84% of the population is, and will remain, Aboriginal), between now and 2017, the provinces and territories will experience dramatic increases in their Aboriginal populations. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Aboriginal population will increase by 60%; other regions expected to experience significant growth include: Saskatchewan (51%), the Yukon (48%) and PEI (46%). By 2017, approximately one in five residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba will be Aboriginal. This explosion will create significant challenges for heart-health services, particularly in rural, northern and remote areas.
Anticipated Growth in Canada's Aboriginal Population, 2001 to 2017
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% of population that is Aboriginal
-----------------------------------
2001 2017 Relative
Increase
---------------------------------------------------
CANADA 3.4 4.1 20.6%
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NFLD/LAB 3.7 5.9 59.5%
---------------------------------------------------
PEI 1.1 1.6 45.5%
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NS 1.9 2.8 47.4%
---------------------------------------------------
NB 2.4 3.0 25.0%
---------------------------------------------------
QUE 1.3 1.6 23.1%
---------------------------------------------------
ONT 1.8 1.9 5.6%
---------------------------------------------------
MAN 13.8 18.4 33.3%
---------------------------------------------------
SASK 13.8 20.8 50.7%
---------------------------------------------------
ALTA 5.5 6.3 14.5%
---------------------------------------------------
BC 4.4 4.8 9.1%
---------------------------------------------------
YUKON 23.8 35.3 48.3%
---------------------------------------------------
NWT 50.5 57.7 14.3%
---------------------------------------------------
NUNAVUT 84.3 83.6 -0.8%
---------------------------------------------------
Source: Statistics Canada
At Risk: Ethnic populations
Research has shown that Canadians of South Asian and African-Caribbean descent are at increased risk of heart disease and stroke because of higher rates of high blood pressure and diabetes. South Asian Canadians may be at particular risk as evidence suggests they may develop heart disease 5 to 10 years earlier than other ethnic groups. Provinces that currently have significant visible minority populations, such as B.C. (25%), Ontario (23%) and Alberta (14%) -- and in particular major metropolitan, urban centres such as
"Many of Canada's ethno-cultural communities are at higher risk for heart disease and have unique linguistic and cultural challenges to overcome with respect to improving their heart health. We need to address these challenges to ensure the long-term heart health of all Canadians, including new immigrants coming to this country," says
At Risk: Women
Women are generally protected from developing heart disease until mid-life. But ultimately, heart disease is an equal-opportunity killer. More women in
"These are the women we'll see in cardiologists' offices within this decade," says
Self Reported Heart-Health Risk Factors, 2007/2008
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Women 20-34 years Women 35-44 years Women 45-64 years
Heart-Health Number Number Number
Risk Factors (% of age group) (% of age group) (% of age group)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Physically
inactive 1,651,824 (50.9%) 1,307,535 (54.1%) 2,406,806 (54.0%)
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Overweight
or obese 927,058 (31.2%) 918,841 (40.0%) 2,189,341 (50.8%)
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Daily or
occasional
smokers 807,238 (24.7%) 527,987 (21.7%) 952,460 (21.1%)
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High blood
pressure 65,239 ( 2.0%) 153,917 (6.3%) 1,016,475 (22.5%)
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Diabetes 36,297 ( 1.1%) 59,275 (2.4%) 324,413 (7.2%)
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Source: Canadian Community Health Survey 2007/08
Provincial and Territorial Disparities
Adding to the perfect storm, troubling disparities persist between provinces and territories. Even provinces that rank in the top three in terms of healthy behaviours are still not where they need to be to maintain their future heart health. More than 50% of the population in every province and territory in
2007/2008 Ranking of Provinces and Territories on Heart-Health Behaviours
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Adequate
Combined Vegetable
Province Health Physical Healthy & Fruit
or Behaviours Smoke-Free Activity Weight Consumption
Territory Rank Rank (%) Rank (%) Rank (%) Rank (%)
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BC 1st 1st 2nd 1st 2nd (tie:
(best) (81.8%) (53.7%) (49.7%) 43.4%)
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ALTA 2nd 4th 3rd 5th 2nd (tie:
(77.7%) (53.4%) (42.9%) 43.4%)
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ONT 3rd 2nd 6th 4th 4th
(78.7%) (48.8%) (43.6%) (41.4%)
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QUE 4th 8th 10th (tie: 2nd 1st
(75.8%) 45.7%) (46.8%) (52.6%)
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Yukon 5th 11th 1st 3rd 7th
(68.2%) (55.4%) (44.6%) (38.7%)
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MAN 6th 5th 4th 7th 9th
(76.7%) (51.8%) (40.4%) (35.9%)
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PEI 7th 3rd 8th 12th 8th
(78.8%) (47.3%) (36.5%) (36.7%)
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SASK 8th 10th 9th 8th 5th (tie:
(74.3%) (46.1%) (39.2%) 38.8%)
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NS 9th 7th 7th 9th 10th
(76.0%) (47.6%) (38.4%) (35.8%)
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NB 10th 6th 12th 10th 5th (tie:
(tie) (76.6%) (42.7%) (37.4%) 38.8%)
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NWT 10th 12th 5th 11th 12th
(tie) (64.8%) (49.3%) (36.8%) (24.6%)
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NFLD/LAB 12th 9th 10th (tie 13th 11th
(75.1%) 45.7%) (33.3%) (30.8%)
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Nunavut 13th 13th 13th 6th 13th
(worst) (42.1%) (40.5%) (42.7%) (24.2%)
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National
(Canadian)
Average: 78.3% 49.0% 44.4% 43.8%
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Source: Canadian Community Health Survey 2007/2008, age 12+ except for
weight which is age 18+
"This regional variation in heart healthy behavior is a wake-up call for the need to fund a comprehensive Canadian heart health strategy," says
The numbers speak for themselves. Our experience with tobacco shows we can make a difference with a coordinated Canadian approach. We need to turn our collective attention to the other risk factors facing Canadians.
Addressing the Challenges/Weathering the Storm
Canadians recognize there is a need for action to address the nation's heart health. Eight out of 10 supported a government-funded coordinated, national heart-health strategy, even if it meant cuts to other programs or a tax increase. When asked about specific issues within a national strategy, almost nine out of 10 Canadians pointed to the need to reduce childhood obesity, seven out of 10 cited programs to help people quit smoking and six out of 10 supported both women's heart health programs and the need to ensure automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are available in public places.
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What Do Canadians Think? Canadian adults* (%)
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Compared to 10 years ago, the health of
Canadians is:
- About the same 26%
- Less healthy 45%
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In a national heart-health strategy, priority
should be given to:
- Reducing childhood obesity 86%
- Helping people to quit smoking 71%
- Women's heart health 64%
- Defibrillators in public places 60%
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Support government funding of a coordinated, 81%
national heart health strategy even if it
meant cuts to other programs or a tax increase
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* Source: Heart and Stroke Foundation poll of 2000 Canadians age 18 and
over; results are considered accurate within + 2.2%, 19 times out of 20
"The 2009 Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan sets out ambitious but achievable targets for the prevention and treatment of heart disease and stroke," says Stephen Samis. To reach those targets, the strategy includes recommendations to:
- Create heart-healthy environments.
- Help Canadians lead healthier lives.
- End the cardiovascular health crisis among Aboriginal/Indigenous
peoples.
- Continue health services reform.
- Build knowledge infrastructures to enhance prevention and care.
- Develop heart health human resources.
The Government of
"The Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan was released in
Call to Action
To the Federal Government:
The Heart and Stroke Foundation calls upon the federal government to fund the comprehensive, coordinated Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan developed by cardiovascular experts.
Key priorities at this time are:
1. Improving the nutritional health of all Canadians and addressing the
rising rates of obesity by:
- Implementing federal trans fat regulations.
- Mandating the placement of calorie counts on quick service
restaurant menu boards.
- Standardizing the portion sizes on the Nutrition Facts Panel for
similar products.
- Improving access to affordable, nutritious foods in remote and
aboriginal communities.
- Supporting the Heart and Stroke Foundation and other organizations
working on childhood obesity.
2. Improving cardiovascular awareness and prevention among women and
reducing care inequities by funding public education initiatives,
such as the Foundation's Heart Truth campaign.
3. Improving our understanding and management of cardiovascular health
by:
- Funding the development and dissemination of best evidence-based
clinical guidelines.
- Creating a Canadian multi-site centre in vascular health, to
improve understanding of all vascular diseases such as heart
disease and stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, chronic kidney
disease and common forms of blindness.
- Enhancing the cardiovascular measures in the new, federally funded
Canadian cancer cohort study.
4. Developing a multi-year action plan to meet the cardiovascular needs
of Aboriginal people.
5. Increasing the availability of Automated External Defibrillators
(AEDs) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training in
communities across the country, including Aboriginal communities.
6. Providing specific strategies to help at-risk and disadvantaged
populations understand and manage their heart-health risk.
To Provincial Governments:
1. Implement chronic disease prevention and management models to meet
the cardiovascular needs of Canadians with multiple risk factors.
2. Improve access to high-quality, appropriate, coordinated
cardiovascular care.
To Canadians:
- Be more physically active and eat a healthy diet. Go to
heartandstroke.ca/healthyliving
- Be aware of your risk factors for heart disease. Take the
My Heart&Stroke Risk Assessment(TM) at heartandstroke.ca/risk
Aboriginal Peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) -
heartandstroke.ca/aboriginal
Canadians of South Asian Descent or African Heritage -
heartandstroke.ca/multicultural
Women - thehearttruth.ca
The Heart and Stroke Foundation, a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy.
NOTE: This press release constitutes the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Annual Report on Canadians' Health - there is no separate report document.
B-roll is available through CNW Group. For those who want to do a live broadcast, access is readily available. Satellite coordinates: Anik F2 C Transponder 3B Audio subcarrier 6.2 and 6.8
Downlink frequency 3820 vertical.
Journalists may join the
For further information: Sharon Edwards, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Cell: (416) 937-5307; Elissa Freeman, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Cell: (416) 565-5605; Jane-Diane Fraser, Heart and Stroke Foundation, (613) 569-4361 ext. 273
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