Awareness about hypertension and its causes is extremely low in the Arab world, a top American nephrologist has warned, blaming modern-day stress and sedentary lifestyles for the rise in the disease among the younger generation of Arabs.
Dr. Matthew Weir was speaking at a press conference at the beginning of his week-long visit to the GCC, beginning March 21st, during which he will address leading doctors in the UAE, Qatar and KSA, as part of a campaign to further highlight the dangers of hypertension.
“In recent years, hypertension has emerged as a serious health problem that affects millions in the Pan-Arab region”, said Weir. “If left untreated, it can cause the heart to eventually overwork itself to the point where the heart, brain, eyes and even kidneys could be seriously damaged. In this respect, physicians have a greater responsibility to educate their patients about the most effective treatment available.”
Dr. Weir pointed to a study launched in 1998 and entitled ‘Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment and Control Among UAE Citizens’ undertaken by the National Epidemiological Survey of Hypertension in UAE (NESH-UAE), Ministry of Health, UAE, which found out that at least one in three UAE nationals or about 33 per cent of the UAE’s population suffer from hypertension. However, since the disease has no obvious symptoms, most people are unaware that they are suffering from the condition.
Another survey conducted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia showed that if high blood pressure, defined as 140/90 mmHg, is used as a criterion for hypertension, the prevalence would be 20.4 percent for systolic and 25.9 percent for diastolic hypertension. However, since the disease has no obvious symptoms, most people are unaware that they are suffering from the condition. (Figures as published by Annual Saudi Med 1997;17(2):170-174)
Dr. Weir, a physician and Director of the Division of Nephrology in the Department of Medicine at the University of Maryland Hospital, in Baltimore, is being hosted in the GCC by one of the leading drug companies in the world, Sanofi-Aventis.
“Patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension are at substantial risk for developing progressive renal insufficiency”, Weir further explained. “Consequently, therapeutic strategies are needed which will reduce the likelihood for as many as 30-50% of these patients to develop progressive nephropathy and its attendant cardiovascular comorbidity.” Dr. Weir then went on to review the available data to show, in his opinion, how low doctors could go with regard to blood pressure control.
Dr. Weir kicked off his GCC tour with a keynote address to the medical community in Abu Dhabi on March 21st. The Dubai event was held at The Fairmont, Dubai, on March 22nd and was chaired by Dr. Azan Binbrek, MD consultant Cardiology, Rashid Hospital.
Explaining the reasons for holding the road show, Dr. Wael El Zanaty, Communications Manager KSA & Gulf, Sanofi-Aventis, said: “We are working towards raising awareness of the lifestyle diseases affecting residents in the Arab world nowadays. While many Arab cities have emerged as thriving business destinations, modern lifestyles have taken a toll on the health of its residents, this being reflected in the increase in incidence of diseases such as diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, obesity and hypertension.”
After visiting the UAE, Dr. Weir will present his keynote address in Qatar on March 23, in Dammam on March 25, in Riyadh on March 26 and in Jeddah on the March 27.
About Sanofi-Aventis
Sanofi-Aventis is the world’s third largest R&D-based pharmaceutical company bringing innovative therapeutic solutions to patients and physicians worldwide addressing unmet medical needs in its core group of four therapeutic areas: cardiovascular diseases and thrombosis, diseases of the central nervous system, oncology and internal medicine.
The permanent objective of Sanofi-Aventis is to improve people’s health worldwide while respecting fundamental ethical principles. The Group has a strict code of ethics and is an active contributor to European and global industry standards and best practices. The company has been operating in the Middle East for over 20 years.
