Middle East on "Edge of Epidemic" of heart disease, says leading UAE specialist

Over 160 doctors attended the session, discussing rise of heart disease and associated risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and even smoking, which could result in serious implications unless tackled quickly.

Dr. Wael Almahmeed, Consultant Cardiologist and Deputy Director of Medical Services at Sheikh Khalifah Medical City presented the comparative results of studies conducted in Saudi Arabia and the UAE at the event.

The UAE study , which examined patients in Al Ain and Sharjah, revealed that 24.5 percent of UAE nationals and 20 percent of all nationalities in the study suffered from Diabetes Mellitus.

In addition, it also found that 33 percent of people studied were clinically obese and 25.9 percent had hypertension (high blood pressure).

Perhaps most surprisingly of all, half the subjects were undiagnosed prior to participating in the study, and so were unaware that they were suffering from these potentially serious conditions, all of which are considered risk factors for the development of heart disease.

"Looking at the research, our feeling is that we could be on the edge of a potentially serious epidemic of heart-related ailments in the Middle East, particularly since so many of the subjects were unaware of their conditions. Problems like hypertension or even diabetes can be asymptomatic in the early stages, so patients are unaware of the problems they face," said Dr. Almahmeed.

"It reinforces the need for greater awareness and supports our belief that patients should consult their doctors to have their blood pressure tested and cholesterol measured on a regular basis," he added.

Physicians from Harvard Medical School in the United States and specialists from the Middle East led sessions at the event, which offered a unique opportunity to share insights from their different countries.

Dr. Mohamed Habbab, Senior Consultant & Head of Adult Cardiology Department, Prince Sultan Cardiac Centre, Saudi Arabia, agreed that the opportunity provided significant insight into the seriousness of the challenge facing health professionals across the region.

"We've seen a definite rise in coronary artery disease over the past twenty years, driven by changing lifestyles and wider social trends. It's apparent that there is a need for concerted effort across the region to try to reduce the impact of these diseases," he added.

A study quoted at the event suggested that the prevalence of coronary artery disease within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stands at 5.5 percent of the population, with higher prevalence among men and those living in urban areas.

Like the UAE study, it also registered high levels of hypertension (26 percent) and high cholesterol (53.9 percent).

Dr. Samir Mallat, a Nephrologist at the Hotel-Dieu de France, Lebanon, who also spoke at the event, confirmed that hypertension posed a serious risk across the Middle East.

"Hypertension is a silent killer, so many people are unaware that they suffer from it. This meeting confirmed that it is both under-diagnosed and under-treated across the region," commented Dr. Mallat.

"One of the treatment factors which we discussed in detail with our colleagues from around the world was the importance of patients staying on their medication and reaching agreed blood pressure targets. Some of the research shared at the conference reinforced the importance of this, by demonstrating the long-term damage that high blood pressure can cause on internal organs like the heart and kidneys," he added.

The event was supported by healthcare leader Novartis, as part of the company's wider support for development, research and knowledge-sharing in the Middle East's healthcare field.

The company, which is a world leader in offering medicines to protect health and treat disease, has played a major role in the treatment of high blood pressure, heart disease and heart attacks. Amongst other treatments, it produces Diovan and Lescol, two of the leading treatments in the field of cardiovascular health.