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UAE Heart Doctors Call for Long-term Nationwide Plan for Cardiovascular Disease
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16 May 2011 |
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UAE heart doctors are calling for a nationwide plan for cardiovascular disease (CVD) to be drawn-up containing 10 years worth of actions and targets, as the Emirates prepares to become the first-ever Middle East country to host the World Congress of Cardiology, taking place in Dubai in April next year which is expected to attract 15,000 global delegates.
The congress will discuss all areas of cardiology care but there will be a strong focus on prevention which UAE doctors applaud, saying more needs to be done across the country to reduce the risk of death from CVD, which is the leading cause of mortality in the Emirates accounting for 28.7 percent of all deaths, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Local cardiology experts say a long-term nationwide plan to tackle CVD similar to those introduced in some Western countries would lead to a dramatic reduction in mortality from heart disease and stroke. The plan would need to be fully comprehensive taking into account specific regional risk factors and cultural issues, and must be developed across a raft of public organisations spanning healthcare, education, finance, media, recreation, food and transport.
"Cardiovascular disease needs to be put at the top of the UAE health agenda. We already have plans across the Emirates but they are fragmented and what we need to develop is a federal plan in collaboration with a wide-range of government and private bodies. Previously planning has been done on a small scale but real, measurable benefits to people's health takes time and we need to look at something that spans five to 10 years - we need a long-term vision," said Dr. Wael Al Mahmeed, Immediate Past President of the Emirates Cardiology Society, who is a member of the 2012 World Congress of Cardiology Management Committee (CMC).
Dr. Nooshin Bazargani, Cardiologist at Dubai Heart Centre, Dubai Hospital, who is also a member of the CMC agreed: "The congress focus is on the prevention, treatment and control of cardiovascular disease and will bring together everyone involved in cardiac care in the UAE and the region, alongside international experts, which we hope will result in the development of local guidelines and protocols that are designed specifically for our populations."
"At present Arab countries use US or European guidelines on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease and what we need to do is come up with our own plan that reflects our unique society and culture," she added.
The World Congress of Cardiology is the official congress of the World Heart Federation and is one of the largest gatherings of cardiology professionals and organisations in the world. Up to 15,000 people from around the world are expected to travel to the UAE to attend the biennial event in 2012, its 62nd year.
"The World Congress of Cardiology is one of the main global conferences for cardiology and we are not going to get the chance to host something like this again for a long time. It is a very important event for us as healthcare professionals and for the UAE a whole," concluded Dr. Al Mahmeed.
A breakdown of CVD deaths in the UAE shows that acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) make up 28 percent of these deaths, cerebrovascular disease (stroke), 16.2 percent, hypertensive disease (high blood pressure) 13.0 percent and ischaemic heart disease (heart failure) 12.3 percent.
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Source: beta.thehindu.com |
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