Ontario Lieutenant Governor
Officially Opens Women's Heart Clinic
at
The Toronto Hospital
December 15, 1997 ... The Honourable Hilary Weston, Lieutenant Governor
of Ontario, opened a new clinic at The Toronto Hospital today devoted to
preventing and treating the number one killer of post-menopausal women,
heart disease.
The Women's Heart Clinic was established to treat the unique health issues
facing women with heart disease. In addition to providing treatment, the
clinic will provide counselling and education to help high risk women take
steps to prevent the onset of heart disease.
"The Toronto Hospital is known both nationally and internationally
for its leadership in cardiac care, research and teaching," said Dr.
Alan Hudson, President and CEO. "This is an important Clinic that will
go a long way to address the need for more comprehensive services and care
for women with heart disease."
Located in the Hospital's Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, the multidisciplinary
clinic will bring together the expertise of staff from cardiology, endocrinology,
general internal medicine, rehabilitation and physical medicine, gynaecology,
nutrition, psychiatry, psychology, social work and women's health.
"It has become clear that heart disease is very different in its manifestation
for women than it is for men," said Dr. Susan Lenkei, Head, Women's
Heart Clinic. "The risk factors for heart disease are the same for
men and women but the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment differ. This clinic
will address those differences and will provide optimal care for the unique
needs of women."
Cardiovascular disease is one of seven priority programs in The Toronto
Hospital Women's Health Program. Since November 1994, its Women and Cardiovascular
Disease Program has focused on addressing the need for more education and
research. "Our research suggests a need for specialized clinical services
for women at high risk for heart disease, particularly post-menopausal women
who are more prone to developing the disease," said Dr. Donna Stewart,
Lillian Love Chair in Women's Health and Director of Women's Health at The
Toronto Hospital and Ontario Cancer Institute/Princess Margaret Hospital.
Innovative research is an integral part of the new Women's Heart Clinic.
Research can open the door to new discoveries that directly impact the quality
of life for women with heart disease. Several research projects are currently
underway. A study funded by the Samuel Lunenfeld Foundation, now almost
complete, followed men and women with heart disease for a year, looking
at differences in symptoms, test procedures, and the length of time men
and women waited before seeking treatment. Early findings show women are
much more likely to have early symptoms of heart disease and that they wait
before seeking treatment. They are also more likely to die after their first
heart attack. Another study funded by the Heart & Stroke Foundation
study will enroll 600 women from community hospitals across Ontario to address
these issues.
Other studies focus on the effects of hormones on the heart and on women
with congestive heart failure; treating depression and anxiety related to
coronary disease in men and women; and male/female differences in cardiac
rehabilitation.
"This is an important endeavour for the Hospital," said Dr. Michael
Sole, Chief, Division of Cardiology and Searle Chair in Cardiovascular Research.
"With heart disease being the number one killer of women in North America,
there is clearly a need for services which focus on research and treatment
specifically relevant to women."
Heart disease accounts for more than 40 per cent all female deaths in Canada
and North America. Eight times as many women die from heart disease and
stroke than from breast cancer. The death rate for women following bypass
surgery is about twice that of men.
The Toronto Hospital is Canada's largest acute care teaching facility with
1,000 beds. It has gained an international reputation for excellence in
patient care, teaching and research in each of its priority programs - cardiac
sciences, neurosciences, transplantation and oncology.
For more information, contact Mary Stobbe,
Public Affairs Officer, The Toronto Hospital,
416-340-3303