OTTAWA, September 3, 2025 — A pioneering mobile heart screening initiative led by the Ottawa Heart Institute (OHI) has revealed surprisingly high rates of undiagnosed valvular heart disease and other cardiac conditions in older adults, many of whom had no prior indication of heart issues. Results are published in Canadian Journal of Cardiology Open.
“Valvular heart disease affects hundreds of thousands of people in Canada,” said David Messika-Zeitoun, MD, PhD, a cardiologist and director of the Centre for Valvular Heart Disease at the Ottawa Heart Institute. “By removing barriers to access, this mobile screening program uncovers silent heart conditions that often go unnoticed until they become serious. It has the potential to transform cardiovascular prevention and care across the country by enabling timely diagnosis and treatment.”
Between May 2023 and October 2024, a mobile team visited 57 sites across Ottawa, including seniors’ centres, Indigenous communities, and malls, to run 109 clinics. They screened 1,817 adults aged 65 and up using handheld ultrasound, ECG, and on-site blood testing. Most participants were women, and 4% had no primary care provider.
Key results:
- 7% of participants screened positive for valvular heart disease, a condition that often progresses silently until advanced stages.
- 9% had other significant non-valvular cardiac abnormalities requiring follow-up.
- 28% showed elevated cardiovascular risk markers — including blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar — with over 75% of these cases newly diagnosed through the program.
“Our study shows the power of bringing advanced cardiac screening directly to the community,” said Sandra Wong, a registered nurse specialist and coordinator of the mobile screening program at the Ottawa Heart Institute, and an author of the paper. “This program proves community-based heart screening is both effective and urgently needed.”
Those with concerning results were referred directly to the Ottawa Heart Institute or guided to follow up with a healthcare provider. Every participant received personalized health education.
Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death in Canada. With more than 3,000 individuals screened through the program to date, this free, expanding program highlights how mobile care can close critical gaps – and with swift intervention it can save lives.
The Ottawa Heart Institute’s research arm provided seed funding for the initiative; however, the Mobile Screening Program is now operating thanks to generous funding from the Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation and is fully staffed by OHI nurses. The hope is that these findings will lead to formal support and future targeted funding from the Ministry of Health.
The mobile screening program at the Ottawa Heart Institute offers early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of valvular heart disease.
For more information or to coordinate interviews with the study authors, please contact the liaison below.
Media contact
Leigh B. Morris
Communications Officer
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
613-316-6409 (cell)
lmorris@ottawaheart.ca