03/30/09

Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular diseases are defined as diseases and injuries of the cardiovascular system: the heart, the blood vessels of the heart, and the system of blood vessels (veins and arteries) throughout the body and within the brain. Stroke is the result of a blood flow problem in the brain. It is considered a form of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease deaths

Cardiovascular disease accounts for the death of more Canadians than any other disease. In 2002 (the latest year for which Statistics Canada has data), cardiovascular disease accounted for 74,626 Canadian deaths.

32% of all male deaths in Canada in 2002 were due to heart diseases, diseases of the blood vessels and stroke. For women, the toll was even higher – 34% of all female deaths in 2002 were due to cardiovascular disease.

54% of all cardiovascular deaths are due to coronary artery disease; 21% to stroke; 16% to other forms of heart disease such as problems with the electrical system of the heart, viral heart infections, and heart muscle disease, and the remaining 9% to vascular problems such as high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries.

Cost of cardiovascular diseases

According to Health Canada's 1998 report, Economic Burden of Illness in Canada, cardiovascular diseases costs the Canadian economy over $18 billion a year.

Links:

•  Heart Disease - Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
•  Cardiovascular Disease - Centre for Chronic Prevention and Control
•  Myocardial Infarction
•  Healthy Living - Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada