The Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day campaign was started in 2017 to increase recognition of the specific heart valve disease risks and symptoms, improve detection and treatment, and ultimately save lives. Each year on February 22nd, non-profits, advocacy organizations, professional societies, foundations, hospitals, patient advocates, and heart centers join forces to help spread the word about valve disease. While heart valve disease awareness is spread year-round, a dedicated day allows us to collaborate and amplify each other’s messages.

A Valve Disease Day Virtual Conference brought together in-person and virtual events from a dozen partners across the country. There were events for people wanting to learn more about valve disease, people who have been diagnosed, their caregivers, and clinicians. The events were hosted live, and videos were made available afterwards at www.valvediseaseday.org/virtual-conference — producing close to 19,000 views. 

On February 22nd and throughout American Heart Month, organizations and advocates shared selfies, personal stories, educational resources, and more.

• Facebook posts and marketing produced 3.4 million impressions, 2.5 million video views, and 423,000 engagements.

• A Twitter chat co-hosted with WebMD, focused on the impact of the pandemic on heart valve disease diagnosis and treatment. There were 1,135 tweets from 455 contributors, producing a potential reach of 4.3 million.

• This year supporters could take the Listen to Your Heart Pledge and encourage their networks to do the same.

• A letter to the editor was placed in eight outlets with an estimated daily reach of 179,000 readers.

• Additional articles about Valve Disease Day were placed by partners across the country in 19 outlets with an estimated daily reach of 4.9 million readers. 

• An article in NextAvenue produced 1,900 engagements and 77,900 impressions.

A Radio Media Tour offered the opportunity to share the messages of the campaign through 18 interviews covering eight states including Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina; and with NBC News Radio and Issues Today Radio. There were a total of 1,855 airings to total listeners of 11,131,140.

Karyne Jones, President & CEO of the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc. (NCBA), was featured in the Alliance for Aging Research podcast This is Growing Old. Karyne spoke about the work of NCBA, why they are proud to be a Valve Disease Day partner, why African Americans are at higher risk of valve disease at younger ages, and more. 

A new co-brandable educational brochure was released for partners to use at educational events. The brochure content was also integrated into the Valve Disease Day website at www.valvediseaseday.org/learn-about-valve-disease.

U.S. Representative Andy Barr (KY-6) introduced H.Res.916 expressing support for Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day. Representative Kathleen Rice (NY-4) and Representative Joyce Beatty (OH-3) co-sponsored the resolution.

This year we celebrated 100 Valve Disease Day partners and kept on going! We are now 117 strong and grateful for the committed national and international partners that include advocacy groups, aging organizations, professional societies, hospitals and heart centers, minority health groups, and other organizations who find impactful and unique ways to raise awareness about heart valve disease every year.