Husam Abdel-Qadir, MD, FRCPC, DABIM

In Canada, breast cancer remains the most common type of cancer in women, while cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death. Cardiovascular disease is also the leading non-cancer cause of death in breast cancer survivors, who have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke as a result of their cancer treatments. Dr. Husam Abdel-Qadir’s research is tackling these two large threats to the health of women at their intersection through his unique cardio-oncology research. He is addressing the challenges of providing the best possible care for these complex patients whose needs are not currently being met within our healthcare system.

During cancer treatments, patients experience inconsistencies in the way cardiovascular diseases are factored into treatment decisions where life-saving cardiotoxic therapies can have long-term effects on heart health. As a result, these patients will often develop multiple chronic conditions. Dr. Abdel-Qadir’s research is helping clinicians make more informed recommendations regarding cancer treatment to protect women from future cardiovascular disease, enabling them to live longer and better quality lives.

Dr. Abdel-Qadir recently received an early career Women’s Heart and Brain Health Chair from the Heart & Stroke and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to support his research on improving women’s heart health focusing on health services, as well as the impact of social, cultural, and environmental factors. With the chair award, Dr. Abdel-Qadir will expand his research focus to address the cardiovascular concerns of older women with non-cardiovascular disease to enhance management of multiple conditions. By developing better pathways of care, he hopes to identify higher-risk women to address modifiable risks to improve their cardiovascular health, as well as lower-risk women to ensure they are spared unnecessary interventions and doctor visits.