Saudi Arabia's heart association has raised the alarm over the rising rate of heart disease among the Kingdom's population. Dr. Hani Najm, President of the Saudi Heart Association (SHA), said that there were “serious indications of an increasing number of people being afflicted with heart disease in the Kingdom over the coming years.” He was speaking as preparations get under way to hold a major heart conference next February in Riyadh. In an interview, Najm called for a “strategy to counter this danger.” He said the percentage of women afflicted with heart disease was less than that for men. However, the success of surgery and invasive procedures like cardiac catheterization, was less for women than for men. Najm said there are two types of heart disease: The first is congenital heart disease which is common among children. This comes in the form of heart deformities. Najm said this is caused partly by marriage between relatives. Unfortunately, this kind of heart disease has been increasing, he said. The second kind of heart disease is found mostly among adults, and more among men than women. However, there was a greater success rate with women than men when it comes to invasive surgery and cardiac catheterization. Najm said that there were 15 heart centers in the Kingdom. He added that the centers should be spread out based on scientific methods. If there is a concentration of staff in one region, then this should remain so as long as patients from other regions can be transported quickly by air to these centers. He said many heart patients are suffering now because they are far from medical centers. He said the Kingdom has specialist cardiac services, but these require further development. For example, there is currently a shortage of staff in the field of primary care for heart patients. This situation was not satisfactory, he said. Najm warned that there is an increasing incidence of the disease in the Kingdom because of factors such as smoking, obesity and lack of exercise. A special strategy was needed to counter this trend, he said. He said that 50 percent of the Kingdom's population consists of young people under the age of 25. He said there is a growing tendency for these young people to smoke, have diabetes and be obese. Najm stressed the need for the existence of a clear strategy to prevent factors that cause heart disease. These include stopping smoking, exercising regularly and treating high blood pressure or hypertension. Asked why the Kingdom lacks preventive cardiology specialization when many countries have this, Najm said the Kingdom is trying to conclude agreements in London to transfer the technology and know-how to hospitals in this country. The SHA will hold the 21st International Heart Conference next February under the patronage of Prince Sultan Bin Muhammad Al-Kabir. About 3,000 male and female doctors from the Kingdom and abroad will attend. Six international, Arab and Gulf bodies will also attend the conference.
