Deborah’s Story

Heart Failure affects millions of people. This condition is life changing and affects both the quality and quantity of life. Its impact can have a profound effect on individual choices about what medications and treatments to take and how best to prepare for the future. Not only does heart failure affect those who have it but also their families and social network. Although outcomes have been improved by advances in care there remains an unmet need for better treatments.

The VICTORIA Study involved 5050 participants from 42 countries including patients right here in Alberta. Drs. Paul Armstrong and Justin Ezekowitz of the Canadian VIGOUR Centre were part of the international team examining the potential of a new heart drug called vericiguat. When this new treatment was added to best usual care it reduced the number of heart related deaths or heart failure hospital stays in patients with a history of chronic heart failure.
In this video, Deborah shares her story of living with heart disease and why she decided to participate in health research.

More information on this clinical trial is available at thecvc.ca/victoria/