|
|
| |
Monday, 8 May
2017 | ArabMedicare.com | Staff Reporter
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
| |
Boehringer Ingelheim
holds 3rd META
respiratory forum
(Dubai, UAE) --
In the Middle East,
respiratory problems can be
unique and cover a wide
variety of pulmonary
disorders due to a number of
factors such as smoking,
extreme weather variations,
as well as genetic
conditions to name a few.
Chronic respiratory
diseases, essentially
chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD),
asthma, respiratory
allergies, and occupational
lung diseases represent a
major public health problem
in the Middle East, Turkey
and Africa region (META).
To bring ongoing awareness
and discussion to this
issue, Boehringer Ingelheim,
a major global
pharmaceutical company based
in Ingelheim, Germany,
recently held its 3rd META
Respiratory Forum in Dubai.
This year, the event was
held under the title of
‘Innovative solutions to
help millions’ where leading
international and regional
medical professionals shed
light on diagnosis and
misdiagnosis as key
challenges towards
controlling the prevalence
of respiratory illnesses.
As part of Boehringer
Ingelheim's efforts to
support continuing
medical education, participants focused
on encouraging accurate
awareness on respiratory
challenges, with the aim to
provide accurate diagnosis
and improve patient outcomes
through effective treatment.
Moreover, the forum was
webcasted to regional
audiences using
groundbreaking technologies
to help more medical experts
participate in the
information exchange
sessions.
Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (CODP) is
not one single disease but
an umbrella term used to
describe chronic lung
diseases that cause
limitations in lung airflow.
Smoking and COPD are
increasingly becoming common
in the Middle East and the
UAE with consequent
significant morbidity,
adverse quality of life of
patients, mortality and
healthcare cost. Despite
persistently increasing in
the incidence and prevalence
of COPD, it is mostly
unrecognized by the
patients, under diagnosed
and undertreated.
Dr. Bassam Mahboub, MD
FRCPC, Consultant
Pulmonologist and Head of
Pulmonary Medicine at Rashid
Hospital, UAE and Chairman
of the 3rd META Respiratory
Forum, said,
"Respiratory problems in the
region have been on the rise
due to a number of elements.
For example, the prevalence
of smoking and obesity have
reached alarming heights in
the region and the
associated lung diseases now
present a major health
burden to health systems.
Tackling respiratory
illnesses requires an
integrated approach
involving public health,
primary care as well as
specialists’ input, taking
into consideration the
unique cultural and
environmental factors to
ensure effective management
and compliance to medical
care."
The current level of asthma
control in the UAE is far
from optimal with 64% of
patients suffering from
sudden severe attacks of
asthma, 17% of adult
asthmatics missing work and
53% of children missing
schools due to their
condition.
"Therefore, it is necessary
to increase the awareness
among patients and update
doctors about asthma control
guidelines for attaining
optimal asthma control, and
thus reducing the burden of
the disease. Respiratory
diseases are a major health
concern in the UAE.
Demographic data suggest
that social and cultural
norms will play an important
role in formulating
strategies for patient
education, creating
appropriate country-wide
health facilities and
gaining governmental support
in order to improve the
health of UAE residents and
decrease the future
financial burden on
healthcare organizations,"
added Dr. Mahboub.
Dr. Antonio Anzueto,
Professor at the University
of Texas Health Science
Center and Chief of the
Pulmonary Section at the
VA's South Texas Veterans
Health Care System, USA also
noted, "COPD is a
common, preventable and
treatable disease that is
characterized by persistent
respiratory symptoms and
airflow limitation that is
due to airway abnormalities
.The major risk factor for
COPD is cigarette smoking.
Current COPD medications can
slow down the progress of
the disease and ease off
symptoms".
In the META region, COPD is
emerging as public health
problem. The disease is
certainly under diagnosed.
In fact, the diagnosis is
made when it becomes
clinically apparent and in
late stage.
Dr. Toby Maher, MD,
Consultant Physician at
Royal Brompton Hospital,
London and Senior Lecturer
at the National heart and
Lung Institute, Imperial
College, London, said
"Idiopathic pulmonary
fibrosis (IPF) occurs when
scar tissue builds up in the
lungs and becomes thick and
hard, making breathing
difficult. The disease
generally progresses
relentlessly and carries a
poor prognosis with a 5-year
survival rate of 30%
- 50%
from the time of diagnosis.
Current available medication
helps manage and slow down
the progression of the
disease".
The Middle East, Turkey and
Africa region despite
various awareness
initiatives, still sees an
alarming increase in
respiratory diseases
prevalence. Effective
treatment to help manage the
diseases, coupled with
strong awareness initiatives
are crucial to driving a
holistic solution that
places patients at the core.
Related Link:
Website:
Boehringer
Ingelheim
References:1.
What is COPD?
http://www.who.int/respiratory/copd/en/
2. The WHO I
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs307/en/
3. WHO
| Asthma|
http://www.who.int/respiratory/asthma/en/
4.
Journal of Lung, Pulmonary &
Respiratory Research | COPD
In the Middle East and UAE |
An unrecognized
underestimated epidemic|
5. Annals of Thoracic
Medicine I Asthma insights
and reality in the United
Arab Emirates I
http://www.thoracicmedicine.org/article.asp?issn=1817-1737;year=2010;volume=5;issue=4;spage=217;epage=221;aulast=Mahboub
6.
Burden of Chronic
Respiratory Diseases (CRD)
in Middle East and North
Africa (MENA) |
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3666180/
7. Clinical and functional
outcomes in ME patients with
idiopathic pulmonary
fibrosis |
http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/drarafah/Articles/2008-Idiopathic%20Pulmonary%20Fibrosis.pdf
PRINT
THIS ARTICLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
