Cardiovascular diseases account for 0.1 million deaths
17 September, 2012
KARACHI: "Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are a serious threat to Pakistan and a better management of their risk factors can positively impact upon the mortality rate. Our aim here is to share latest techniques in cardiovascular diseases management to build capacity of local experts," said Dr David Waters, a renowned US cardiologist and former Chief of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital.
Dr Waters expressed these views at a seminar entitled 'Cardiovascular Expert Symposium with Dr David Waters,' organised recently by Pfizer here at a local hotel. He has been invited from the US to conduct expert workshops in major cities of Pakistan. Dr Waters is currently an Emeritus Professor at the Department of Medicine, University of California.
A medical educational programme focused on raising disease management awareness and to share the latest scientific advancements in the area of cardiovascular diseases started in Karachi.
Dr Waters also expressed his views regarding the importance of managing cardiovascular risk factors, which contribute significantly to the disease burden in Pakistan.
Dyslipidemia is highly under represented disease, i.e. 20% according to the latest estimation while coronary artery disease (CAD) is another highly prevalent factor which effects 27% of the males and around 30% of females. Hypertension or high blood pressure affects one in three individuals over the age of 45 years in Pakistan. According to the speakers, overall 17.9% of adults in Pakistan suffer from high blood pressure, out of which 21.5% are from urban areas and 16.2% from rural areas.
The symposium talked about rising threat of cardiovascular diseases in Pakistan, cardiovascular risk continuum and approaches in the management of its risk factors including some local case studies. Pakistan is the 11th biggest carrier of diabetes in the world.
Dr Syed Nadeem Hassan Rizvi, addressing the seminar, shed light on various issues of blood pressure and others including changes pattern of death world wide, leading causes of death, reasons for not achieving blood pressure goal, challenges faced by doctors, patients misconception, technical issues, current knowledge and guidance.
"As an innovative pharmaceutical company, Pfizer has a responsibility to increase disease management awareness and build capacity by sharing international advances in the field of medicine with the local healthcare professionals, despite tough security issues, we have managed to make this foreign speaker Cardiovascular Expert Symposium a success," said Syed Tilal Safdar, Senior Marketing Director for Pfizer.
Later, Dr Waters also presented a case study of women and asked various questions regarding treatment.
The symposium was moderated by Dr Mohammad Rehan Omer and featured Dr Syed Nadeem Hassan Rizvi, whereas the panelists included Prof Azhar Masood A Faruqui (HI, SI); Prof Khan Shah Zaman; Prof Nazeer Ahmed Memon; Prof Feroz Memon; Dr Syed Khawar Abbas Kazmi; Prof Ejaz A Vohra; Dr Mansoor Ahmed; Dr Najm-ul-Islam; Dr M Nageeb Basir and Dr Bashir Hanif. Over 100 leading healthcare professionals attended the symposium in Karachi, while another 300 would attend in major cities of Pakistan. Pfizer Pakistan-supported series of events are going to be held across the country and are aimed towards healthcare professionals both the specialists in the field of cardiology as well as leading general physicians.
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