Although many Canadians have been seeing their GPs virtually since March 2020 and intend to continue with virtual care for non-emergency appointments, three-quarters of respondents aged 25 and older to a national survey released today, believe the virtual visit is not as effective as in-person appointments in discovering new or worsening symptoms.

Health Canada has recently expanded indication and approval for two transcatheter heart valves for use in a TAVI procedure.

Heart Valve Voice Canada is excited to welcome Ellen Ross as Managing Director! This is a new role for HVV Canada that will be the next step in the growth and development of our organization.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted an interesting shift in the delivery of patient care: digital health. The significant increase in demand for virtual and/or remote options to receive care and medical support due to limited in-person interactions has shone the spotlight on the need to explore how to properly and most effectively implement this new option.

HVV Canada is encouraged by the Government of Ontario’s continued investment in cardiac disease treatments and is now calling on the Province to further its commitment by accepting Ontario Health’s recommendation to publicly fund TAVI in adults with severe Aortic Stenosis who are at low surgical risk.

Survey results published by Global Heart Hub show that older Canadians are as unaware as ever of aortic stenosis, the most common form of heart valve disease. In its most serious form, more than half of patients with severe heart valve disease die within two years of developing symptoms.

Heart Valve Voice (HVV) Canada, a non-profit patient advocacy organization for those with heart valve disease, urges provincial governments and health care institutions to prioritize the treatment of heart valve disease patients as elective surgeries are reassessed and begin to resume during COVID-19.

With the recent developments of COVID-19, Heart Valve Voice Canada and its Board of Directors believe it is important to share information regarding what heart valve disease patients should be aware of during this time.

Heart Valve Voice Canada is proud to officially join its Heart Valve Voice counterparts around the world to provide a voice to Canadians affected by heart valve disease - and what better day to do so than today, Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day!