Heart disease: Monitoring
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How Canada monitors heart disease
The Public Health Agency of Canada uses provincial and territorial health data from the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System. This system helps the federal government better understand chronic conditions by estimating:
- those who are newly diagnosed with a chronic condition (incidence)
- those who are living with a diagnosed chronic condition (prevalence)
- the use of health services
- health outcomes
Data is used to plan and evaluate policies and programs.
Rates of heart disease
Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Canada, causing over 55,000 deaths each year.
According to 2023 to 2024 data from the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System, 8.2% of adults in Canada were living with diagnosed ischemic heart disease. It can lead to narrow arteries due to plaque buildup (a mix of fats, calcium and cholesterol). This is the most common type of heart disease, affecting about:
- 10% of males aged 20 years and older
- 7% of females aged 20 years and older
Males have higher hospitalization and death rates related to heart diseases than females in all age groups, but the difference lessens with age. However, because females live longer than males, there were a similar number of heart disease-related deaths overall.
High blood pressure (hypertension)
About 25% of adults in Canada aged 20 years and older are living with diagnosed hypertension. Males and females were equally affected. Hypertension is when pressure is too high in your blood vessels.
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Stroke
About 3% of adults in Canada aged 20 years and older had survived a stroke. Males and females were equally affected, but more females than males who survived a stroke died each year since they tend to live longer.
Over half of people in Canada who reported having a stroke rated their health as only fair or poor. In particular:
- 23% self-reported diagnosed mood disorders
- about half self-reported mobility limitations
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Depression
Clinical depression is very common among people with heart diseases and conditions.
There are many symptoms associated with depression, but the 2 main ones are a sad mood or loss of interest or pleasure in activities. Symptoms must be present most days and for at least 2 weeks.
Depression can be treated. Watching for early signs is important so that you seek help as soon as possible. If someone close to you is showing signs, talk to them about getting help.
Learn more:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Improving your mental health
- Mental health support: Get help
- How to cope with stressful life events
- Depression (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)