Heart Valve Disease in Canada: Recommended Components for a National Strategy

April 25, 2022

This report provides a comprehensive list of recommendations to improve care along the continuum of services for those living with heart valve disease as well as how to address a number of important systemic issues.

The incidence of heart valve disease (HVD) is markedly increasing with the aging of the population and should be considered as the next epidemic affecting millions of people worldwide. Heart valve conditions are serious conditions and can be fatal if left untreated but are eminently and increasingly treatable especially if detected early. Innovation in treatments as well as detection and management to addressing gap in care are an urgent priority.

 Key facts:

• The incidence of heart valve disease (HVD) is markedly increasing with the aging of the population and should be considered as one of the next epidemics affecting millions of people worldwide.

• Heart valve conditions are serious conditions and can be fatal if left untreated but are eminently and increasingly treatable especially if detected early.

• Innovation in treatments as well as detection and management to address gaps in care are an urgent priority.

• It is estimated that 2.5     percent of the population has heart valve disease increasing significantly after the age of 65 reaching 13 percent after the age of 75.

• Aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation are the two most common HVDs.

• In 2040 Canada will have an estimated 1.5 million people over 65 with HVD.

• There is low public awareness of health valve disease. For example, only 3 percent of Canadians over 60 are aware of aortic stenosis, the most common type of     heart valve disease.

• Between 2007 and 2017, there was a 68 percent increase in the number of hospitalizations for heart valve disease in Canada.

The full report and supplementary information are available on the IHE website.