OBJECTIVES: The Cardio and Vascular Coalition (CVC) commissioned YHEC to carry out a study to assess the opportunities and challenges facing cardiovascular disease in England (2008-2018).  Part of this study involved assessing the pressures that face people who care for somebody diagnosed with a cardiovascular condition.  METHODS: A questionnaire, developed with input from the CVC, was piloted before being distributed by CVC organisations to 825 of their members.  Data from 176 questionnaires were analysed (giving a response rate of 21%).  Some caution should be used when generalising findings as all respondents were members of a CVC organisation.  RESULTS: Most respondents were the spouse or partner of the person cared for (92%), female (80%), white (96%), retired (70%) and had been caring for somebody who had been diagnosed for more than 5 years (75%).  Just over a third of respondents (34%) said that they felt that their health had deteriorated as a result of being a carer.  A number of different categories of people provided support to carers.  Support was provided on most occasions by Family/friends (31%) and GPs (28%), and to a lesser extent by Condition Specific Support Groups (15%), Other Professional Carers (15%) and Other Categories (13%).  Support to carers was provided ‘in Current situation’ (40%) ‘After Diagnosis’ (36%) and ‘After most recent hospital episode’ (24%). The most frequently cited ways that carers felt that their life could be made easier were through provision of more healthcare and professional support, information and practical help with every day life. CONCLUSIONS: More attention should be given to the needs of those caring for people with CVD.  Carers bear significant economic and psychological burdens, in many cases without adequate information and support.  Their role will become increasingly important as more people survive acute CVD events and live with heart disease.