October 2005

Information

Integrated Strategy on Healthy Living and Chronic Disease

Cardiovascular Disease

Under the Integrated Strategy on Healthy Living and Chronic Disease, the Government of Canada will contribute a total of $18.9 million over five years, and $5.2 million per year ongoing, to address cardiovascular disease.

Addressing Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease refers to diseases of the circulatory system - the heart, the blood vessels of the heart, and the veins and arteries throughout the body and within the brain. Ischemic heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure and stroke are examples of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men (32.3%) and women (34.1%) in Canada. It is the common cause of hospitalization, accounting for about 18% of cases. It is also the country's most costly disease, the one that puts the greatest burden on our health care system.

Many of the protective factors and risk factors for cardiovascular disease are common to type 2 diabetes and many cancers. These include protective factors such as healthy eating and physical activity, and risk factors such as obesity. In addition, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Public health experts have emphasized the potential of integrated approaches to prevent and delay the onset of cardiovascular disease.

Pan-Canadian Approach

Although the federal government has a significant history of collaboration with provinces, territories and non-governmental organizations to improve heart health, there has not been sustained funding targeted to cardiovascular disease. Previous efforts include the Canadian Heart Health Initiative, which demonstrated the merit of an integrated approach in addressing chronic diseases and their risk factors.

Under the Integrated Strategy, investments will focus on working with provinces, territories and stakeholders to develop and establish a pan-Canadian strategic framework and action plan for cardiovascular disease, in a process that builds on previous efforts and that is linked to the pan-Canadian Public Health Network.

Hypertension

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a risk factor specific to cardiovascular disease which can be managed to prevent or delay the onset of this disease (including both heart disease and stroke). What makes this condition an issue of particular concern, is that symptoms can be absent, even in cases of high blood pressure. Based on the 1985-92 Canadian Heart Health Surveys, it was estimated that 22% of adult Canadians had high blood pressure but only 13% of the population had been diagnosed.

Concurrent with the development of a pan-Canadian strategy for cardiovascular disease, the Government of Canada will make early investments, through the Integrated Strategy, that will focus on addressing hypertension.

Cardiovascular Disease Surveillance

In collaboration with provinces, territories and other partners, the Government of Canada will make new investment efforts in cardiovascular disease surveillance such as:

• developing a comprehensive surveillance framework;
• collaborating with existing cardiovascular disease surveillance initiatives by provinces, territories and other stakeholders;
• developing hypertension and stroke surveillance; and
• collaborating with international cardiovascular surveillance initiatives.

Working Together

The Canadian Heart Health Initiative was launched in 1986 in collaboration with provincial governments and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. That initiative emphasized physical activity, healthy diet and tobacco control.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) provides research funding for cardiovascular disease through its Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health. In 2004-05, more than $109 million was invested in cardiovascular research. In collaboration with the Canadian Hypertension Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and the Quebec Hypertension Society, the CIHR is developing a national heart research agenda for Canada. Since 1997, the Canada Foundation for Innovation has invested about $37 million in cardiovascular disease research infrastructure.