RIYADH, 17 May 2008 — A medical study prepared by the King Fahd Medical City (KFMC) has revealed that the percentage of heart disease patients, who are also diabetic, in Saudi Arabia is at its highest rate in 40 years.
“A study prepared by KFMC on Acute Coronary Syndrome, which covered 1,600 patients from various regions in the Kingdom, revealed that 50 percent of patients are diabetic,” said Dr. Khaled Al-Nemer, president of Saudi Nuclear Cardiology and head of the Cardiology Division.
“This percentage is considered to be the highest in the world,” Dr. Al-Nemer added. Al-Nemer said that in the past 40 years, the percentage of heart disease patients in Saudi Arabia, who also suffer from diabetes, has never reached this current stage.
He warned that the alarming rise in number of patients was due to many factors, including laziness, bad eating habits, not enough exercise, and unhealthy lifestyles.
“Many patients ask what the normal cholesterol level is for a person, but that level cannot be given as it varies according to circumstances surrounding a person,” he said.
Al-Nemer said it was wrong to assume that healthy diet alone, without first taking medication, helps patients suffering from acute coronary diseases. “Unfortunately, in our society, many patients begin adjusting their eating habits and then take medication... Scientific evidence has shown that is better to take medication and then start dieting.”
Asked about the effect of combined medications to cure acute coronary diseases, Al-Nemer said that a current medical study, which is expected to be released in 2012, would establish whether combined medications, such as Zeta Vitorin, are beneficial to combat strokes and heart attacks.
“So far, it has been proven that it reduces the antimal thickness of the coronary artery,” he pointed out.
He also advised people to undergo annual medical check ups to determine their cholesterol level. “Prevention is the best line of defense. If a person is alerted that his cholesterol level is above normal, he or she can than take precautions before a stroke or heart attack occurs,” he said.
