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CADTH » Priorities » Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases

More commonly known as heart disease, stroke, and aneurysm, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are two of the three leading causes of death in Canada, following cancer.

Cardiovascular diseases alone account for approximately 22% of all deaths in Canada (based on Statistics Canada data from 2007 — the most recent year for which data is available). Although the rates of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases have steadily declined over the past 40 years, they still pose a serious concern. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada reports that, every seven minutes in Canada, someone dies from these diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases relate to diseases of the heart and blood vessels, while cerebrovascular diseases relate specifically to diseases of the blood vessels supplying the brain. Many of the diseases classified within these categories have the same underlying causes, such as high blood pressure and stiffening of arteries. Risk factors include stress, old age, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and being overweight.

Why this theme area?

The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) has selected cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases as a priority theme area for a number of reasons:

  • Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are major causes of death, hospital admissions, and drug costs in Canada.
  • The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) reports that, in 2007, 1.3 million Canadians had heart disease diagnosed by a health professional, and 317,500 Canadians were living with the effects of a stroke.
  • PHAC reports that cardiovascular disease costs the economy $22.2 billion per year (based on data from 2000) in direct and indirect costs.
  • This priority theme supports the Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan that was released in 2009, which calls for more knowledge creation and dissemination, improved education and regulation, and health service reform to improve the health of all Canadians.

CADTH research

CADTH’s work in this priority theme area addresses the significant burden of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases on Canadians and the health care system.

In response to its stakeholders, CADTH has completed a wide range of reports on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, with others underway. These reports range from reviews of anticoagulants and other drugs; assessments of health technologies such as cardiac valves, coronary stents, and surgical robotic systems; and environmental scans identifying new treatment options currently in development.

With many health technology assessment organizations focusing on this health area, it is important to have a coordinated effort and information sharing. CADTH has successfully partnered with a number of these groups and will continue to form linkages with key stakeholders in this priority theme area.

The CADTH priority themes reflect the needs of Canada’s health care system. CADTH is focusing on developing products and services to support health care decision-makers within the priority themes.