Engagement of physiotherapists in cardiology research.

Each year cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally (WHO 2011). An estimated 17.1 million deaths were attributed to cardiovascular disease in 2004, representing 29% of all deaths worldwide. Of these deaths, an estimated 7.2 million were due to coronary heart disease and 5.7 million due to stroke. Cardiovascular disease is projected to remain the single leading cause of death in the future (WHO 2011) and is a priority health area for research and for evidence translation.