Dr. Ghormallah Al-Zahrani (left), Head of Adult Cardiology at Prince Sultan Cardiac Center in Riyadh, during a workshop parallel to Tabuk Pharmaceuticals' recent 1st Cardiovascular Convention in Casablanca, Morocco. With him are Dr. Mohamed Alami, Professor of Cardiology in Casablanca-Morocco; Dr. Abdallah Shehab, associate Professor of Cardiology and Vice President of Emirates Society of Cardiology; and Dr. Marco Valgimigli, Professor of Cardiology and Head of catheterization laboratory at the University of Ferrara-Italy and member of the European Society of Cardiology committee responsible for 2012 STEMI guidelines. RIYADH – Heart disease is common both in the population at large but also in the population of working age. It is estimated that heart disease, including stroke and high blood pressure, is responsible for more costs than any other disease or injury. The cost in occupational terms of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is, however, harder to quantify but is likely to be similarly high. Heart disease can claim the ultimate cost as the most common cause of death. Recent studies of self reported work related illness in showed that record numbers of workers feel that they have an illness that was caused by or made worse by their work, equating to 2.3 million people and 33 million working days lost. These figures show a prevalence estimate for CVDs caused or made worse by work of 80 000 during the study year, with each person reporting work related illness taking an average of 23 days off through sickness in the year. This equates to 1.84 million days lost to work-related CVDs, with associated costs to industry amounting to millions of dollars. In essence, the issue of heart disease and work is a very significant one in terms of individuals affected, industry, health service resource, and national resource. CVDs remain the number one cause of death worldwide. It is estimated that by 2030, 25 million people will die from CVDs, with 80 percent of deaths taking place in low-to middle-income countries like those in the MENA region. In MENA alone, up to 45 percent of all deaths are attributed to CVDs and the number has been increasing over the past 20 years, leading to a true public health crisis. Against this backdrop, Dr. Ghormallah Al-Zahrani, consultant cardiologist and Head of Adult Cardiology at Prince Sultan Cardiac Center in Riyadh, said at Tabuk Pharmaceuticals' recent 1st Cardiovascular Convention in Casablanca, Morocco, that “what we observe is not encouraging, as risk factors that increase cardiovascular diseases incidence such as sedentary life styles, smoking, and diabetes are increasingly widespread in the community and the end result is unfortunately more advanced cardiac disease cases than in the past.'' He highlighted that “in MENA, diabetes alone, which is often associated with heart disease, will claim the lives of 290,000 people. In Saudi Arabia, one in four citizens has diabetes and often does not even know about it. Dr. Rachid Ezzikhe, MD, Corporate Marketing Officer of Tabuk Pharmaceuticals, said: “As a leading manufacturer and distributor of heart medicines in the region, we feel that one of our responsibilities is help address the current health crisis, as it represents a heavy burden on our countries. This annual cardiology convention is an opportunity for experts from the entire MENA region to share the latest advances and research in their fight against CVDs. We are proud to be hosting it and to play our part in the management of this health issue.” He added: “Tabuk Pharmaceuticals' approach is to focus on both prevention and treatment of entire disease entities, rather than specific conditions. While providing medicines that can slow the progress of disease and prevent complications is one of our core activities, we also feel strongly about the significance of our educational role, to help prevent diseases from appearing in the first place.” — SG
