The Heart and Stroke Foundation warned Monday that a "perfect storm" of cardiovascular disease is forming in Canada, fuelled by an aging population, ongoing poor lifestyle choices and a growing contingent of young Canadians with early signs of heart disease.
In its Annual Report on Canadians' Health, the foundation warns that with fewer Canadians exercising and more Canadians gaining weight, the progress that has been made in treating heart disease over the last 50 years is being eroded.
"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," Dr. Beth Abramson, cardiologist and spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation said in a news release announcing the report card.
"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 report notes that between 1994 and 2005 in Canada:
- rates of high blood pressure rose by 77 per cent
- diabetes rates rose by 45 per cent
- and obesity rates rose by 18 per cent
Younger Canadians now at risk
Most worrying is how fast the rates of these chronic health problems are rising among younger people, the report says. Among those 35 to 49 years of age:
- the prevalence of high blood pressure increased 127 per cent
- diabetes rose by 64 per cent
- obesity rose by 20 per cent
Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure were thought to be "diseases of aging," the group says. But more and more young people are now beginning their adult lives with multiple risk factors for heart disease.
That has the group worried that these increases will translate into an explosion of heart disease in the next generation.
Terrill Ware was diagnosed with high blood pressure at age 29.
鈥淚 think I was surprised, because I wasn鈥檛 aware,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y doctor told me that, essentially, the outcome could be death down the road.鈥�
The Heart and Stroke Foundation notes that, according to the 2007/08 Canadian Community Health Survey, 3 million Canadians between the ages of 20 and 34 reported they were inactive and 2.5 million said they were obese. Two million admitted to smoking, while 164,000 said they had high blood pressure and 66,000 had diabetes.
"It's disturbing to see younger Canadians with so many risk factors for heart disease and stroke," says Dr. Abramson.
She noted that while overall smoking rates are falling, it is disturbing that 20-year-olds continue to be Canada's heaviest smokers, particularly since it can take up to 15 years to reverse the damage caused by smoking.
Stephen Samis, the director of health policy at the Heart and Stroke Foundation, said he finds it astounding that so many Canadians in their 20s and 30s had high blood pressure.
"That's something we could have never imagined a decade ago. It's almost a doubling in 15 years," he said in a statement.
"The real tragedy is that this is largely preventable."
The Heart and Stroke Foundation is also worried that as "baby boomers" turn 65, many will head into retirement in poor health. One in five adults aged 50 to 64 right now already has two or more of the major risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and obesity.
Immigrant populations at risk
The group is also worried about immigrant Canadians, noting that 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 appear at particular risk, with evidence suggesting they develop heart disease five to 10 years earlier than other ethnic groups.
"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," says Dr. Abramson.
"We need to address these challenges to ensure the long-term heart health of all Canadians, including new immigrants coming to this country."
The foundation notes that across the country, each province differs in their adoption of healthy behaviours. For example, even though B.C. has the highest number of people maintaining a healthy weight, more than 50 per cent of the province is still at an unhealthy weight.
And in most provinces and territories, less than half the population is getting enough activity to maintain their health. And only one province -- Quebec -- has more than 50 per cent of the population eating the recommended amount of vegetables and fruit per day.
Action Plan needed, group says
The Heart and Stroke Foundation says it is no longer enough for each province to try to prevent and treat each heart disease risk factor on its own.
"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," says Samis.
The group notes that the federal government has funded strategies for combating cancer, diabetes, lung disease and mental health, but there is no federal-funded strategy for heart disease and stroke, which remain the No. 1 killers in Canada.
"The Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan was released in February 2009, but has yet to receive funding," says Samis. "To ensure this strategy doesn't on the self and collect dust, we are calling on the federal government to provide funding for the heart health strategy."
The group wants the federal government to take a number of measures to improve the heart health of Canadians, including:
- Implementing federal trans fat regulations
- Mandating the placement of calorie counts on fast-food 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.
- Improving cardiovascular awareness and prevention among women and reducing care inequities
- Increasing the availability of Automated External Defibrillators and CPR training in communities across the country, including Aboriginal communities.
Dr. Arya Sharma, the Canadian Obesity Network鈥檚 scientific director, also said a comprehensive strategy is needed.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really obesity and (being) overweight that is driving this epidemic,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have to find treatments that work, find an effecting strategy to approach this, because we are talking about an entire generation who are now faced with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.鈥�
With a report from CTV medical specialist Avis Favaro and producer Elizabeth St. Philip
