Over 5,000 Canadians aged 40 to 49 were newly diagnosed with heart failure in 2023/24
Heart failure is hitting Canadians in their 20s, 30s and 40s, with hospitalizations for adults aged 20 to 39 jumping 55 percent in men and 25 percent in women between 2007 and 2016.
The Canadian Heart Failure Society (CHFS) and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS), which describes itself as “the national voice for cardiovascular care professionals,” are jointly calling for more support for young Canadians living with heart failure during the eighth National Heart Failure Awareness Week from May 3 to 9.
They warn that without greater awareness, many younger patients risk delayed diagnosis and missed opportunities for early intervention.
In 2023/24, 5,070 Canadians aged 40 to 49 were newly diagnosed with heart failure, according to Heart & Stroke’s Analysis of Data from the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System.
Heart failure is one of the fastest-growing cardiovascular conditions in Canada and is now manifesting at earlier ages.
The awareness week coincides with the appointment of Margot Davis as President of the Canadian Heart Failure Society.
A leading cardiologist, Davis is widely recognized for her research in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of advanced heart failure.
In her new role, she will lead Canada’s national authority on heart failure education, advancing initiatives in advocacy and public awareness to better support patients and healthcare providers across the country.
Heart failure has “traditionally been associated with older adults,” but is now climbing among younger Canadians, said Margot Davis, president of the Canadian Heart Failure Society.
She called this “a critical opportunity to strengthen awareness, improve early detection,” and make sure Canadians of all ages get the care they need.
Sean Virani, president of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, called “the rise in the number of younger people being diagnosed with heart failure in Canada” deeply worrying.
He said Canada needs to prioritise cardiovascular health from youth by addressing risk factors and strengthening education for the public and health care providers.
The story of 29-year-old Jenny Milne shows what is at stake.
At just 23, she began experiencing severe shortness of breath and a swollen abdomen.
Despite being a competitive figure skater in peak health, her symptoms were initially misdiagnosed as a non-functioning gallbladder, followed by COVID for shortness of breath and asthma, delaying a critical diagnosis and reinforcing a dangerous myth: heart failure is not just an “older person’s disease.”
Now 29, Jenny speaks out about early detection, treatment and prevention after being diagnosed with end-stage heart failure in her early twenties.
“Early detection saved my life and allowed me to return to a sense of normalcy,” she says, adding that heart failure “can happen to anyone, even young people with healthy lifestyles,” so people should not ignore warning signs and should get their heart checked early.
For details on heart failure and access to practical tools and resources, visit the societies’ website.
