Vancouver, British Columbia (May 5, 2022)— May 5th is World Pulmonary Hypertension Day, an international event that raises awareness of pulmonary hypertension (PH), a rare and potentially fatal lung disease that affects more than 25 million people worldwide, including up to 10,000 Canadians.
To mark World PH Day, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada (PHA Canada) has launched a new report: The Impact of Pulmonary Hypertension on Canadians. The report highlights key results from the 2021 Canadian PH Community Survey, which was designed by community experts to measure changes in the impacts of a PH diagnosis and provide new insights into PH diagnosis, treatment, and support in Canada. They also designed it to help us learn how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the PH community, including psychological impacts, vaccination rates, and healthcare delivery changes.
“The Canadian PH Community Survey reveals the need for greater innovation in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension,” says PHA Canada Executive Director, Jamie Myrah. “Diagnosis often takes two or more years, treatment options remain limited, and the isolation commonly felt by PH patients and their families has been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic.”
PH is a serious disease that can be life-threatening. While the development and availability of treatment options have progressed in recent years, many people with PH in Canada continue to spend two to three years seeking an accurate diagnosis. Alarmingly, without treatment, the average life expectancy of a person with PH is less than three years.
World PH Day is an annual global event to raise awareness of pulmonary hypertension (PH and advocate for improved access to care and treatment for this frequently misdiagnosed disease. Over 80 international PH patient associations participate in World PH Day by organizing national awareness campaigns: www.worldphday.org.
Background
About Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension—or PH—is a rare and very complex lung disease, which is progressive and potentially fatal. PH is characterized by high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries (blood vessels) that carry blood to the lungs. PH means that the blood pressure in the arteries that carry blood to the lungs is too high. This excessive pressure is usually caused by restriction or blockage in the blood vessels. PH can cause the heart to work harder and lead to heart failure.
About the Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada (PHA Canada)
PHA Canada is a federally registered charity whose mission is to empower the Canadian pulmonary hypertension community through support, education, advocacy, awareness, and research. PHA Canada was established in 2008 by patients, caregivers, and health care professionals to work together to better the lives of Canadians affected by pulmonary hypertension and represent a united national PH community.
For more information, please visit: www.phacanada.ca/worldphday
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