Experts to discuss ways of beating heart disease

Distinguished health experts from across the region, including heart specialists from Harvard Medical School, will attend the 3rd Partners International Cardiovascular Conference which is being held from 13-15 December and is being supported with an educational grant from Pfizer.

The conference, which will bring together specialists from the US, Italy, Kenya, Turkey, the UK and from across the Middle East, is being seen as a potential 'watershed event,' given the ongoing seriousness of the cardiovascular health crisis facing the region.

The conference will be co-chaired by Dr Mohammed Saeed Ali, Senior Consultant Cardiologist and Head of Cath Lab at Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi and Dr.Wael Almahmeed, Consultant Cardiologist & Deputy Director of Medical Services- Sheikh Khalifa Medical City- Abu Dhabi.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United Arab Emirates (41 percent) and conditions relating to heart disease are prevalent throughout the Middle East.

The prevalence of hypertension in Kuwait, for example, is 26.3 percent, compared to 32.1 percent in Qatar, 45.3 percent in Egypt and 33 percent in Oman.

Many Gulf countries also suffer with extremely high rates of diabetes in adults and children. The United Arab Emirates (20.1 percent of adults), Qatar (16 percent), Bahrain (14.9 percent), and Kuwait (12.8 percent) all feature in the international top five countries for highest percentage of adult sufferers.

A poor diet, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking and hereditary factors has led to an upsurge in cardiovascular disease both locally and globally, and is presenting one of the biggest health care challenges of recent decades.

While discussing the advances in the management of cardiovascular disease, delegates at the conference will also examine the challenges and controversies of hypertension management, new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in cardiovascular risk and new opportunities for treating coronary artery disease.

Advances in diabetes management and new advances and drugs for treating smoking addiction and related illnesses will also be addressed.

The UAE has made substantial progress in health care in recent years and is now ranked 49th out of 177 developed and developing countries in the latest UN Human Development Report.

Dubai was chosen to host the prestigious conference due to its position as a centre of medical excellence in the region with preventative medicine campaigns having a major impact on life expectancy comparable to most developing counties.

'We are delighted to offer our support and backing to this conference. Harvard Medical School and Pfizer are at the forefront of research and treatment of cardiovascular disease and their interest will place the disease under the spotlight across the region,' said Dr. Ahmed El Hakim, Pfizer's Middle East Director of Policy and External Affairs.

'Cardiovascular disease is claiming more and more lives at an even younger age each year and it is vital that public awareness of the problem is raised. This conference will help the development of the heathcare system in the region and help to promote the need for a healthier lifestyle,' added Dr El Hakim.

More than 300 experts from across the Middle East and Africa will attend the Advances in the Management of Cardiovascular Disease conference being held at Dubai's Hyatt Regency.