FRA approves establishment of five new firms for investment fund management, SME financing    Sukari Gold Mine showcases successful public–private partnership: Minister of Petroleum    Egypt's Environment Minister attends AMCEN conference in Nairobi    Egypt considers launching national platform to mobilise green financing for private-sector industrial transformation    Egyptian, Belarusian officials discuss drug registration, market access    Egypt's ARC, Italy's AICS sign deal to boost wheat production    Gold prices edge higher on July 16th    Egypt stocks hit record highs in 2025 as reforms fuel rally: Cabinet    Egypt condemns Israeli strikes on Lebanon, Syria    Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda    Pakistan names Qatari royal as brand ambassador after 'Killer Mountain' climb    Health Ministry denies claims of meningitis-related deaths among siblings    Egypt's Health Min. discusses drug localisation with Sandoz    Egypt, Mexico explore joint action on environment, sustainability    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Egypt's PM urges BRICS to prioritise peace    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Symposium finds type 2 diabetes is a high risk factor for heart disease
Published in Daily News Egypt on 22 - 05 - 2008

CAIRO: The Cairo Cardiovascular Symposium held for medical practitioners highlighted patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus as being at increased risk of having cardiovascular disease (CVD).
According to data quoted from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, cardiovascular disease was stressed as the most common and serious complication of diabetes, with heart disease and stroke causing almost 65 percent of all diabetes-related deaths.
Additional risk factors for CVD include obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, physical inactivity and smoking.
The full-day symposium held last week was attended by physicians from across the region, discussing topics such as the high prevalence of diabetes in the Arab region, diabetes as a vascular disease, the cardiovascular risk management approach to diabetes, the dost to health economics approach and the effect of statins in lowering the overall risk of CVD, with interactive case studies on how to apply knowledge in practice.
Addressing the focus of the event, Dr Mourad Abdel Karim Elmourad, consultant and head of the diabetes & endocrinology unit in the Riyadh Medical Complex, said, "This symposium aims to examine the key factors that contribute to the high risk of cardiovascular disease in this region and explore the best long-term solutions to ensure a healthier life as soon as we can.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, the highest prevalence of diabetes among adults aged 20-79 is in the United Arab Emirates, followed by Saudi Arabia (23.7 percent), Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. Only the South Pacific Island of Nauru has higher levels than this region.
In addition, the fedration said 26 percent of Egyptians have hypertension, compared to 26.3 percent in Kuwait, 32.1 percent in Qatar, 33 percent in Oman and 26.1 percent in Saudi Arabia.
Elaborating on the risk management approach, Professor Peter Lansberg, of the Academic Medical Center in Amesterdam, added: "High cholesterol is another major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and at this symposium we are discussing the benefits of using statins to reduce overall cardiovascular risk. Statins are a class of medications used to lower cholesterol levels in people with or at risk of cardiovascular disease.
In a press release distributed by the symposium organizers, in the US, Lipitor (atorvastatin), one of the statins in the market, is FDA approved to treat adult patients with type 2 diabetes, without clinically evident chronic heart disease but with at least one other risk factor for heart disease such as high blood pressure, smoking or complications of diabetes, including eye disease and protein in urine, to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. This is the same in Europe.
In patients with type 2 diabetes without coronary heart disease and at least one other risk factor, the press release continued, Lipitor significantly reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events by 37 percent and the risk of stroke by up to 48 percent.
The event was held in Cairo and speakers included renowned international & regional experts like Professor Helen Colhoun, from the University of Dundee, Scotland, Professor Ben Van Hout of the Julius Center for Health Science and Primary Care, Utrecht University and Pharmerit, and Professor Ramez Guindy of Ein Shams University.


Clic here to read the story from its source.