Heart disease and stroke is the world's largest killer, claiming 17.5 million lives each year. In Saudi Arabia, according to statistics, cardiovascular disease amounts for 22 percent of deaths each year. The most vulnerable are elderly citizens. Dr. Majid I. Al Fayyadh, Director of Invasive Cardiology Laboratory and Chairman Electrophysiology Program at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center in Riyadh, said that out of the 23 million citizens in Saudi Arabia today, 80 percent are under the age of 40. He said that in 20 years this population bracket will be 60 and therefore a surge in the incidence of deaths from cardiac diseases will be expected.
