28th December 2009 : Saudi Arabia’s heart association has raised the alarm over the rising rate of heart disease among the Kingdom’s population, according to a report.
The Saudi Gazette newspaper quoted Saudi Heart Association (SHA) president Dr Hani Najm as saying that there were: “serious indications of an increasing number of people being afflicted with heart disease in the Kingdom over the coming years.”
He was speaking as preparations get under way to hold a major heart conference next February in Riyadh, the daily added
He said the percentage of women afflicted with heart disease was less than that for men. However, the success of surgery and invasive procedures like cardiac catheterization, was less for women than for men, he added.
Najm said there are two types of heart disease: The first is congenital heart disease, which is common among children. This comes in the form of heart deformities. He explained this is caused partly by marriage between relatives. Unfortunately, this kind of heart disease has been increasing, Najm said.
The second kind of heart disease is found mostly among adults, and more among men than women. However, there was a greater success rate with women than men when it comes to invasive surgery and cardiac catheterisation, Saudi Gazette reported.
Najm warned that there is an increasing incidence of the disease in the Kingdom because of factors such as smoking, obesity and lack of exercise. A special strategy was needed to counter this trend, he said.
He said that 50 percent of the Kingdom’s population consists of young people under the age of 25. He said there is a growing tendency for these young people to smoke, have diabetes and be obese, according to the daily.
Saudi Gazette said that when asked why the Kingdom lacks preventive cardiology specialisation when many countries have this, Dr Najm said the Kingdom is trying to conclude agreements in London to transfer the technology and know-how to hospitals in this country.
The SHA will hold the 21st International Heart Conference next February under the patronage of Prince Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Kabir. About 3,000 male and female doctors from the Kingdom and abroad will attend, the Saudi daily reported.