What do Canadians know – and not know – about heart valve disease?
In 2025, we led a national survey on what Canadians aged 50+ know about heart valve disease. The findings were recently published in CJC Open, an international, peer-reviewed cardiology journal.
The report tells us a lot about what Canadians know about heart valve disease, and where there are opportunities for improvement.
When it comes to heart valve disease, we found that:
• Only 4% of Canadians aged 50+ said they knew a great deal about it, and 49% said they knew nothing about it.
• Nearly one in four people could not identify a symptom.
• While 75% of Canadians went to a family doctor, only 48% got a stethoscope check.
• Rural residents were less likely to see their family doctor and knew less about heart valve disease than their urban counterparts.
• Women were 29% less likely to get a stethoscope check than men, despite being more likely to have an issue identified during a check.
This research provides important Canadian evidence that strengthens the case for increasing awareness of heart valve disease, its symptoms, and the importance of early detection.
See our scientific poster on this data from the 2026 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, in Ottawa.