Around 75 Saudi and international cardiac experts will discuss the latest advances in cardiac imaging technology at the 2nd International Conference on Advanced Cardiac Imaging on Saturday. Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Al-Manea is scheduled to open the three-day conference at King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh. The 22 sessions of the conference will address the health concerns of a growing number of people with coronary heart diseases in Saudi Arabia, said Dr. Samih Lawand, Chairman of the organizing committee of the conference. It will discuss the latest cardiac imaging techniques that help cardiologists and cardiac surgeons not only to evaluate heart problems, but also assist them during surgical procedures. The conference will be of special significance in educating cardiologists and cardiac surgeons on the latest cardiac imaging techniques, which will help them evaluate heart problems, particularly of young Saudis born with cardiac defects and those who underwent corrective surgeries at an early age. “Cardiac imaging is one field that will assist surgeons and consultants in Saudi Arabia to diagnose the exact nature of heart problems among cardiac patients and save lives,” said Lawand. He said Saudis with childhood cardiac problems born in the early 1980s are now adults in their mid-20s, who would be either university students or working professionals, require specialized treatment for congenital heart disorders. “Young Saudis with inborn cardiac problems, who underwent corrective cardiac surgery at an early age of their lives now need specialized treatment,” said Lawand. “This is only possible with advanced cardiac imaging technology being available in the Kingdom.” Dr. Lawand said the major cause of coronary heart diseases in Saudi Arabia is diabetes, the rates of which are as high as 27 percent among middle-aged Saudis, compared to 18 percent in other Arabian Gulf states and 14 percent in other countries. He added that around 70 percent of the Kingdom's population is comprised of young Saudis. Most of them gain weight and fall into obesity at a very young age due to bad eating habits. That, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hypertension and smoking, leads to coronary heart diseases among young Saudis. “The right diagnosis, through the latest cardiac imaging techniques, done at a right time, will save lives,” he said. adding that it is important that medical experts, including cardiologists, consultants, surgeons and radiologists, should be well aware of new technological developments in cardiac imaging. __
