Heart disease was the second leading cause of death in Canada in 2023, claiming 57,890 lives. Cerebrovascular diseases, more commonly known as strokes, ranked fourth, taking 13,833 people. Both afflictions are cardiovascular in nature—that is, diseases affecting blood vessels or the heart. High blood pressure is a risk factor for both diseases.
Heart disease more prevalent in Atlantic Canada
In 2023, 6.3% of Canadians aged 18 and older reported having ever been diagnosed with heart disease or having had a heart attack. Heart disease was more prevalent among men than women (7.9% versus 4.7%).
Nova Scotia (8.7%), Newfoundland and Labrador (8.4%) and Saskatchewan (7.5%) had a higher prevalence of heart disease compared with the overall provincial average of 6.3%. Alberta (5.1%) had the lowest.
In 2023, 8.8% of Canadians in the bottom 20% of the household income bracket reported having a heart disease, compared with 5.1% of those in the top 20%.
Canadians who reported having a disability (14.1%) had a much higher prevalence of heart disease than those who did not (5.2%).
Strokes strike all ages but more prevalent among older Canadians
A stroke is a sudden loss of brain function caused by an interruption of blood flowing to the brain.
Stroke prevalence has remained unchanged since 2015, and 1.2% of Canadian adults reported suffering from the effects of a stroke in 2023.
Stroke prevalence ranged from 3.4% among people aged 65 and older, to 1.1% for those aged 50 to 64, and down to 0.2% for those aged 18 to 34.
In 2023, 4.6% of people with a disability reported having had a stroke, compared with 0.7% of those without a disability.
Canadians in the bottom 20% of the household income bracket were more likely to report having had a stroke than those in the top 20% (2.1% compared with 0.7%).
High blood pressure linked to heart disease and strokes
Untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause heart attacks, stroke, heart failure, dementia, renal failure and blindness. Risk factors for high blood pressure include sedentary behaviours, obesity and a high-sodium diet.
Overall, one in five Canadians aged 18 and older (19.9%) reported having high blood pressure in 2023. The prevalence of high blood pressure ranged from 2.7% among Canadians aged 18 to 34 to almost half (45.0%) of those aged 65 and older.
Among the provinces, the prevalence of high blood pressure was highest in the Atlantic provinces (25.0% to 27.5%) and lowest in British Columbia (18.0%).
Contact information
For more information, contact the Statistical Information Service (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).