RIYADH, 24 November 2006 — Two events — one in Riyadh and the other in Dubai — will focus on hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in the Kingdom and the Middle East.
The one in Riyadh, “Hypertension in Saudi diabetic patients,” will be held today. The cases of hypertension among diabetic patients in the Kingdom have increased recently. The seminar is being organized by the Pakistan Doctors Group, whose general secretary, Dr. Riad Khwaja, said Dr. Fadl Al-Rahman, former adviser to the Royal Court, will be the chief guest. Dr. Abdul Karim Al-Suwalda, assistant professor of medicine, and head of the Division of Nephrology, King Khaled University Hospital, Riyadh, will speak on the “Management of Hypertension in diabetic patients.”
In the other event, 300 leading heart specialists will examine the prevalence, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases throughout the Middle East during a three-day conference being held in Dubai from Dec. 13-15. A delegation of over 60 prominent Saudi doctors will be among the participants.
Distinguished health experts, including heart specialists from Harvard Medical School, will attend the third Partners International Cardiovascular Conference, which is being held with an educational grant from Pfizer.
The conference, which will bring together specialists from the US, Italy, Kenya, Turkey, the UK and from across the Middle East, is being seen as a potential “watershed event,” given the ongoing seriousness of the cardiovascular health crisis facing the region.
The conference will be co-chaired by Dr. Mohammed Saeed Ali, Senior Consultant Cardiologist and Head of Cath. Lab at Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi and Dr. Wael Almahmeed, Consultant Cardiologist & Deputy Director of Medical Services, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi.
Cardiovascular disease is one the leading causes of death in Saudi Arabia and conditions relating to heart disease are prevalent throughout the Middle East. The prevalence of hypertension in Qatar has been put at 31.1 percent, compared to 26.3 percent in Kuwait, 45.3 percent in Egypt and 33 percent in Oman.
