REGINA, Sask. — Deaths from heart disease and stroke have fallen by more than 80 per cent in Canada over the past 75 years, but health professionals say the next gains depend on better access to care, stronger prevention and continued research.
A new Heart and Stroke Foundation survey of more than 1,000 health professionals points to earlier detection and treatment of high blood pressure and cholesterol, improved medications and surgeries, and greater public awareness of medical emergencies as key reasons for the decline.
But the burden remains substantial, with more than six million Canadians living with heart disease or stroke, conditions responsible for one in five deaths.
Effie Kosmas, Heart and Stroke’s Specialist for Provincial Mission in Saskatchewan, says survival is only part of the picture.
“The 80 per cent decline in the death rate from heart disease and stroke is an incredible achievement,” Kosmas said. “It doesn't mean the burden has disappeared.”
She says improving recovery after a heart attack or stroke is also critical, including access to rehabilitation, ongoing support and treatment to manage long-term health conditions.
The survey found almost half of health professionals ranked better access to health-care services among the top priorities for further progress. More than one in three identified more equitable access as a priority.
For Saskatchewan, Kosmas says geography can make timely emergency and specialized care more difficult, particularly for people living in rural, remote and northern communities.
“Making sure people can access prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery services regardless of their postal code” is an important part of improving outcomes, she said.
Virtual services such as telestroke can help connect patients in remote areas with specialized expertise. Kosmas noted that Heart and Stroke is not directly implementing telestroke in Saskatchewan, but supports better systems of care through research, advocacy, clinical recommendations and resources for people affected by heart disease and stroke.
Cardiologist Dr. Colin Yeung, vice-president of the Canadian Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, says the progress reflects decades of advances in diagnosis, medications and surgical treatment. But he says access remains a major concern.
“If you can't get a blood test, then you won't know what your cholesterol is,” Yeung said, stressing the importance of access to primary care and screening for risk factors that may not cause obvious symptoms.
The survey found more than six in 10 health professionals credited earlier identification and treatment of medical risk factors with reducing deaths. The same proportion pointed to improved treatments, while half identified increased public awareness of heart attacks, strokes and cardiac arrest as a major contributor.
Yet prevention remains essential. Kosmas says nine in 10 people in Canada have at least one key modifiable risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
“We can't take any of the progress that we've made for granted,” she said.
In Saskatchewan, Heart and Stroke is also focused on improving survival from cardiac arrest by expanding CPR education and awareness of automated external defibrillators, or AEDs. Kosmas pointed to a provincial commitment announced this spring to provide students with basic CPR skills and AED awareness through the organization’s cardiac crash education program.
The survey also highlights the need for continued research, including research focused on women. Kosmas says women have historically been underrepresented in heart and brain health research, which can affect how well diagnostic tests and clinical guidelines reflect their symptoms and needs.
Yeung says he was surprised that relatively few respondents identified technology and artificial intelligence as likely drivers of future breakthroughs, given the attention those areas receive. He believes their potential role in earlier detection and monitoring deserves further study.
Almost all respondents agreed that research into prevention, causes, diagnosis, treatment and care remains important. More than four in 10 identified new or improved diagnosis and treatment as likely areas for major breakthroughs over the next decade or two.
Heart and Stroke chief executive Doug Roth says continued investment in health equity and access to care will be essential to build on the gains already made.
The survey collected responses from 1,031 health professionals between June 22 and August 5, 2026. Participants included doctors, nurses, researchers, rehabilitation specialists, health-care administrators and system leaders.
