Download 1 in 5 Canadians will develop heart failure

Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Canada Inc.
385 Bouchard Blvd.
Dorval, Quebec
Canada H9S 1A9
www.novartis.ca
MEDIA RELEASE • MEDIA RELEASE
• MEDIA RELEASE
1 in 5 Canadians will develop heart failure: National survey reveals
misconceptions

It’s time to put heart failure on the map to help Canadians better understand this
incurable condition
Dorval, Quebec, January 12, 2016 – Novartis, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and
Regis Philbin have an important message for Canadians: Heart failure is a condition that
1 in 5 of us will develop during our lifetime.1 An awareness campaign is being launched on
the heels of a recent national survey that found that heart failure is not a top of mind health
concern and more than half of Canadians believe one or more of three major
misconceptions about the condition. They mistakenly believe heart failure is:



When the heart stops beating (51%)
A silent killer with no symptoms (52%)
Not preventable (54%)2
The survey results also showed that three in five Canadians (59%) mistakenly think that
there is a cure for heart failure and one quarter (23%) think that heart failure is another
term for heart attack.2 Regis Philbin, the long-time host of the talk show “Live with Regis
and Kelly” and the quiz show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” is encouraging Canadians
to know more about what heart failure is, how to recognize the symptoms and help those
who live with it. Mr. Philbin knows the impact heart disease can have on an individual’s life.
When facing a serious risk for a heart attack, he underwent triple bypass surgery in May
2007.
“Heart failure is often gravely misunderstood by many of my patients, so the survey findings
are not surprising,” says Dr. Heather Ross, Cardiologist, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and
Medical Director, Cardiac Transplant Program, University Health Network (UHN). “The
condition leaves the heart too weak to pump an adequate amount of blood throughout the
body. Reduced cardiac function is often a pre-cursor to heart failure, which can occur most
commonly following a heart attack or other illnesses affecting the heart, or by damage
sustained more gradually due to high blood pressure or coronary artery disease. The good
news is treatment options to improve symptoms and limit hospitalizations are available
today. The best prevention practice remains healthy eating and daily exercise,” she says.
“The misconceptions that this survey highlights show us that Canadians are in need of
clear information about this very serious condition that is on the rise in this country. There
are more than 600,000 Canadians living with heart failure, and each year 50,000 new
patients are diagnosed,” said Dr. Gavin Arthur, Senior Manager for Promote Recovery at
the Heart and Stroke Foundation. “Heart failure causes symptoms for patients that greatly
impact their quality of life3 and is a leading cause of hospitalizations.4 While not curable,
steps can be taken to help prevent heart failure and to treat it.”5
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The cost of managing moderate and severe heart failure patients in Canada amounts to
$2.89 billion annually.6 Progression of symptoms can be slowed with appropriate medical
therapy and lifestyle modifications, both of which can prolong and improve quality of life.
There is a critical need for better ways to treat and support these patients.
About heart failure
Heart failure is a condition that develops after the heart becomes damaged or weakened
by diseases of the heart including heart attacks and other medical conditions. Heart failure
occurs when the pumping action of the heart is not strong enough to move blood around,
especially during increased activity or under stress. In addition, the heart muscle may not
relax properly to accommodate the flow of blood back from the lungs to the heart. These
abnormalities in heart function can cause fluid to back up in the lungs and in other parts of
the body such as the ankles. Congestion in the lungs and lack of oxygen may cause
tiredness and shortness of breath. It is estimated about 600,000 Canadians are living with
heart failure and it is on the rise as more people survive heart attacks and other acute heart
conditions. As people with damaged hearts are living longer, they become more
susceptible to heart failure. Heart failure is a serious condition and there is no cure.
However, with lifestyle changes and treatment options, the condition can be managed well.
Learning about heart failure is an important first step in managing the condition.7
With support from Novartis, the Heart and Stroke Foundation has recently developed a
web-based information hub for people who have (or at risk for) heart failure, including
videos and downloadable information on understanding and living with heart failure.
www.heartandstroke.ca/heartfailure
About the survey
The findings on heart failure knowledge of Canadians come from a survey of the Canadian
general population conducted in July 2015 on Vision Critical’s online panel, the Angus Reid
Forum. Data were collected online from 1,201 English- and French-speaking Canadians
age 18 and older via a quantitative survey using the Angus Reid Forum. Results have been
weighted to the Canadian general population by age, gender and region using census data
from Statistics Canada. The margin of error is ±2.8%, 19 times out of 20.2
About The Peter Munk Cardiac Centre
The Peter Munk Cardiac Centre is the premier cardiac centre in Canada. Since it opened
in 1997, the Centre has saved and improved the lives of cardiac and vascular patients
from around the world. Each year, approximately 55,000 patients receive innovative and
compassionate care from multidisciplinary teams in the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, and
the Centre trains more cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and vascular surgeons
than any other hospital in Canada. The Centre is based at the Toronto General Hospital
and the Toronto Western Hospital - members of University Health Network.
www.petermunkcardiaccentre.ca
About Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., a leader in the healthcare field, is committed to the
discovery, development and marketing of innovative products to improve the well-being of
all Canadians. In 2014, the company invested $76 million in research and development in
Canada. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. employs approximately 700 people in
Canada. For further information, please consult www.novartis.ca.
About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of
patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified
portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic
pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas.
In 2014, the Group achieved net sales of USD 58.0 billion, while R&D throughout the Group
amounted to approximately USD 9.9 billion (USD 9.6 billion excluding impairment and
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amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 120,000 full-timeequivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around
the world. For more information, please visit www.novartis.com.
###
Novartis Media Relations
Patricia Tiramani
Novartis Pharma Communications
+1 514 633 7873
[email protected]
Spectrum Advisors Communications Inc.
[email protected]
416-558-2783
Heart and Stroke Foundation
Rhae Ann Bromley
[email protected]
306-500-6041
Peter Munk Cardiac Centre
Lianne Castelino
[email protected]
647-669-8416
References:
1
Lloyd-Jones DM et al. Lifetime risk for developing congestive heart failure: the Framingham Heart Study. Circulation
2002;106:3068–72
2
Vision Critical, Heart Failure Research, August 21, 2015
3
Heart and Stroke Foundation, Heart Failure - Symptoms & Diagnosis, accessed January 6, 2016 at:
http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3484065/k.CC14/Heart_disease__What_is_congestive_heart_failure
.htm?utm_campaign=offline&utm_medium=vanity&utm_source=heartfailure#symptoms-tab
4
Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), Inpatient Hospitalization, Surgeries and Childbirth Indicators in 20132014, accessed January 6, 2016 at:
https://secure.cihi.ca/free_products/CAD_Hospitalization%20and%20Childbirth_Infosheet_ENrev-web.pdf
5
Heart and Stroke Foundation, Heart Failure – Managing your heart failure, accessed January 6, 2016 at:
http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3484065/k.CC14/Heart_disease__What_is_congestive_heart_failure
.htm?utm_campaign=offline&utm_medium=vanity&utm_source=heartfailure#managing-tab
6
Cook C. et al., The Annual Global Economic Burden of Heart Failure, International Journal of Cardiology (2014),Table 5.
7
Heart and Stroke Foundation, Heart Failure - What is Heart Failure?, accessed January 6, 2016 at:
http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3484065/k.CC14/Heart_disease__What_is_congestive_heart_failure
.htm?utm_campaign=offline&utm_medium=vanity&utm_source=heartfailure#whatis-tab
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