Rise in non-communicable diseases: Prevention is better than cure

Abdul Rahman Al Owais and other dignitaries at the first NCD Congress held in Dubai on Thursday. — Supplied photo

With one in four deaths in the UAE due to cardiovascular disease and with an alarming rise projected for diabetes and cancers over the coming years, health officials are looking at preventive measures for a way forward.

In the UAE, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 67 per cent of all deaths. Statistics show that men and women are dying prematurely before the age of 60 years which has a profound impact on families, communities and prospects for development.

The average age for heart attacks is 45 years compared to 65 years for the global average.

At the first NCD Congress held in Dubai on Thursday, senior health officials from the World Health Organisation, the UAE Health Ministry and health authorities called for a national dialogue to agree on a way forward for the prevention and control of NCDs in the UAE.

NCDs are categorised as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Ala Al Alwan, Regional Director, WHO Regional Office For The Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) said: “The UAE is among the 10 countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes in the world. Once diabetes and other non-communicable diseases develop, they consume a substantial proportion of health care resources. With increasing burden, rising costs and higher consumer expectations, the demands on health systems will be unmanageable. Prevention is the answer.”

He also said that the burden of NCDs is already substantial and is projected to show an alarming rise over the coming years. “These diseases are already the single largest cause of deaths, accounting for over 55 per cent of all deaths in the region. Over the coming decade, this region will experience the second largest rise among all world regions in the proportion of deaths due to non-communicable diseases.

“In the UAE, NCDs account for 67 per cent of all deaths,” he added.

“Statistics tell us that, for instance, mortality rate resulting from cardiac incidences has reduced in state hospitals from 30 per cent, as was the case 30 years ago, to 2 to 3 per cent at present,” said Professor Najib Al Khaja, Secretary General, Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences and Congress President. “Nevertheless, these diseases are still the main cause of 67 per cent of the total mortalities in the state. I should indicate here that as regards heart attacks we can reduce the rate of their incidence by 70 to 80 per cent, especially among the young, which would lower the incidence of the other non-communicable diseases and reduce the resulting mortality.”

He added: “It is time for our health strategies not to be limited to the development of the diagnostic and therapeutic plans of these diseases but must extend so as to activate the preventive plans for addressing their causes.”

“We need to activate the plans that may alleviate the rate of tobacco consumption, by taking healthy food and practising physical exercises, particularly by the young generation,” said Professor Khaja.

Dr Alwaan said that a roadmap was present on how to move forward to address the NCD epidemic.

Abdul Rahman Al Owais, UAE Minister of Health, hoped useful strategies would come out of the conference. “The country exerts continuous efforts to develop all diagnostic and therapeutic services and to benefit from the modern sciences, knowledge and technologies,” he said during a speech.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com