Cardiovasculer Desaise in Saudi Arabia - Coursework Example

Cardiovascular disease in Saudi Arabia Introduction Cardiovascular disease has contributed to 30 percent of deaths in Saudi Arabia as per the Saudi Heart Association. The most recent WHO statistics proves that, chronic diseases are the enormous killers compared to infectious disease. 34.9 percent of deaths per 10,000 people in 2002 were caused by cardiovascular disease. The Saudi Arabia kingdom has come up with the best health service sectors globally and has positioned the most excellent in terms of healthcare awareness among Arab states. Various guidelines have been in print for innovation, evaluation and management of different cardiovascular disease risk features e.g. obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Cardiovascular disease is the set of diseases that have an effect on the blood vessels or the heart. Precisely, the word refers to any kind of disease that affects the cardiovascular system, (Hoffman, and Christianson, 1978). These conditions have same mechanisms, causes and management. Cardiovascular disease is treated by thoracic surgeons, interventional radiologists, cardiologists, neurologists and vascular surgeons depending with the organ system that is being taken care of. Literature review Health and illness from a population health perspective In Saudi Arabia, inert smoking has turned out to be a predicament particularly among the youths where they smoke in indoor places. Persons initiate smoking as young as 12 years. Obesity is another risk factor facing the Saudi Arabians. The doctors recommend people to adjust their eating and set up loom to excellent healthy eating habits in schools to attend to school children. Ischaemic heart disease is not regular in Saudi Arabia. While there are incidence of risk factors as diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, tobacco smoking, and alcohol consumption, majority Saudi Arabians develop chest pains which are not linked to ischaemic cause. Ischaemic heart diseases are generally as a result of congestive cardiomyopathy for Saudi Arabians and leads to chronic congestive cardiac malfunction and cardiomegally. Majority of the heart diseases which are general are very uncommon amongst Saudi Arabian. Several of these heart diseases comprise alcoholic cardiomypathy, diabetic heart diseases, hypertensive heart disease and obesity. A study was conducted in Saudi Arabia to establish the epidemiology of congenital heart disease. Persons with this disease were used for the experiment and among them thirty three point nine percent had ventricular septal defect, eighteen point one had atrial septal defect, while twenty four point nine had neonatal congenital disease. The results revealed that more males were affected compared to their female counterparts. The epidemiology of congenital heart disease in Saudi Arabia is yet to be established though efforts have been made in various regions. Different methodologies have been applied at different periods. The main objective of these studies has been to find out the epidemiology of congenital heart disease in Saudi Arabia. Various previous reports showed a modification of frequency and patterns of congenital heart disease in different regions. These epidemiological studies are the roots of investigative efforts of identifying the preventive measures of cardiac dysmorphogenesis and their major causes. These studies were conducted in four major referral institutes and a total number of two thousand, six hundred and four patients being examined. Out of this figure, one thousand, three hundred and five were females, while the rest were male between the ages of zero to thirteen years. This exercise was done by qualified professionals such as pediatrics and cardiologist. Congenital heart disease was divided into nine key injury brands and included: fallot, ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, aortic stenosis, pulmonary stenosis, atrioventricular septal defect, coarctation of aorta, patent ductus arteriosus, detro-transposition of great arteries and others. The findings revealed that, out of the total number of patients who had been examined, the most common was ventricular septal defect with thirty three point nine percent, followed by atrial septal defect with eighteen point one percent. In order to know the true incidence of congenital heart disease, there is need to diagnose accurately all affected persons. In many cases, children are never counted leading to underestimation of the results. Among them are the babies who die immediately after birth and have undiagnosed complex, severe congenital heart diseases. Children who are suspected to having the disease are usually referred to the referral units. Thus in practice, the situation only reflects the prototype of congenital heart disease in Saudi Arabia rather than the incidence. The variations in occurrence in the reports are associated to the differences in explanation of the congenital heart disease, study methodology, diagnostic accuracy, and genetic predisposition among other environmental and social factors. The basis of congenital heart disease is not known but people suspects the chromosomal anomal. The most common cause of congenital heart disease is Down syndrome. Coronary heart diseases are perceived diseases for aged persons. Nevertheless, it is held that, the base of the condition crops up at young period and the situation should hence be dealt with at the incidence of the risk aspects. In broad, the incidence of coronary artery disease in Saudi Arabia has been accounted to be 5.5 percent. Presently, data about the clinical supervision and management of Saudi Arabian patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is still mislaid. The Saudi project for Assessment of Coronary Events (SPACE) is a study for those patients with acute coronary syndrome and who are admitted to hospitals, (Hoffman, and Christianson, 1978). Principles were permitted in these hospitals and involvement was deliberate just for the state hospitals. Details for every patient were reviewed and the numerical results were evaluated. The Saudi Project for Assessment of Coronary Events had between December 2005 and July 2006 enrolled 435 patients. Their mean age being 57.1 and of these77 percent (332 patients) were men. Ischemic heart disease had earlier diagnosed in 140 patients. Diabetes mellitus was the main risk factor for CAD while hypertension pursued as one of the risk factors for coronary artery diseases. Saudi project of Assessment of Coronary measures is the preliminary acute coronary syndrome in Saudi Arabia. Their information focused on an average age of 57.1 years and this was 8 years less than that of developed nations. Internationally, the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) used a middle age of 65 and 68 years. The valuation in years of age depiction is owing to the existence of younger populace in developing states match up to to developed country and due to inadequately controlled risk aspects of coronary artery diseases. The cause for these outcomes is not clear. The results illustrated that acute coronary syndrome affected persons at a youthful age and majority patients had more than one CAD risk factors. Different explanations state that the amplified obesity rates, poor dietary habits, sedentary lifestyles and increasing rates of consanguinity as the major factors. The outcome draw consideration to diverse challenging areas according to this study, the limited number of the hospitals participating lessens the extent of overview of the result. There is requirement to raise the number of hospitals taking part in the presentation in order to get approved and dependable findings. Under coverage of the study will be experienced and above all lack of reported outcome for patients in non space hospitals. The sample size used in the study is so small to match up to the inhabitants of Saudi Arabia. Thus the results may not reflect practicality Social and structural determinants of health The objective of Health Protection Goal is “Healthy person in Healthy places”. Where persons live, learn, work and play promotes their health status and safety more so those at greater dangers of health discrepancy. Social determinant of health are the social and economic circumstances under which individuals live which conclude their health. They are societal risk conditions that raise or reduce the risk of getting a disease for instance cardiovascular disease. Social determinant of health are conditions that shape the health of a person, society and state as a whole. They are the initial determinants of whether persons live healthy or become sick. They also determine the level to which a person possesses social, personal and physical resources to satisfy needs, achieve individual aspirations, and also cope with the general environment. Some of the determinants of health as recognized by various health organizations such as World Health Organization (WHO) and Public Health Agency of Canada include health literacy, employment, income and social status, physical environments, social environments, healthy child development, health services, life skills, genetic endowment, culture, gender and personal health practices. Of these, social determinant of health include: education, employment and working conditions, gender, assess to services such as health care services, food, gender, income, environmental stressors, and social economic status. Social determinants of health are mostly found to be linked with heart disease and stroke. These determinants either work directly and influence the burden of heart disease and their related risk factors or influence health -supporting behaviors. In Saudi Arabia, consanguinity has been termed as a risk factor for congenital heart disease in an inborn inhabitant especially among first cousins, with greater paces of intermarriage among relatives. Studies shows that in a population with lofty level of inbreeding, consanguinity may intensify fundamental genetic risk factors especially for offspring of first cousin mating A study to find out the connection between tea consumptions and the occurrence of coronary heart disease was carried out in Saudi Arabia. The results showed that those who drink about 6 tea cups daily had primarily lower occurrence of coronary heart disease thus we can conclude that there is a positive relationship between tea consumption and coronary heart disease. Women’s responsibilities and rights in Saudi society were examined, as well as education, marriage, polygamy, fertility, and job opportunities. In terms of gender, women obtain less concern and health care than men do especially girls get less attention than boys. According to World Health Organization, gender inequity is a major problem affecting population health. As a result, the mortality rates of females are more than that of males in Saudi Arabia as a result of cardiovascular disease. Human genes interact with their surroundings to increase disease risk. Genes and environmental aspect sway general human diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Unhealthy behaviors and eating habits such as smoking, and high cholesterol foods boosts an individuals risk to heart disease. Due to illiteracy and ignorance, many persons are losing their lives in Saudi Arabia as a result of cardiovascular disease. People lack understanding on the influences of risk factors such as alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, and effects of obesity. In Saudi Arabia, passive smoking has become a problem especially among the youths where they smoke in indoor places. Obesity is a major condition affecting Saudi Arabian women due to lack of knowledge of healthy eating habits and importance of physical activities. People wit low education and low occupation lack knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors, preventive measures, usefulness of health education in changing lifestyles, and the disease in general. Doctors advised people to modify their eating habits and initiate approaches to good healthy eating styles in schools so as to attend to school going children. Relationships between behavior and health outcomes In various situations, individual’s behaviors are positively linked to their health outcomes. Cardiovascular disease threat factors comprise of obesity, tobacco smoking, harmful alcohol consumption, lack of physical exercises among others. They are called changeable risk factors as they result from lifestyle behavioral problems. To reduce such risks at the individual and the public levels, it is fundamental to make masses conscious of the devastation they result to and to advance the requirement of people to adjust their behavior. Nearly all of these behaviors can be controlled if not eradicated and as an outcome will lead to enhanced health values. Obesity is a further risk factor that results to cardiovascular disease. This is as a result of lack of physical exercise and unhealthy eating. Majority of Saudi Arabian inhabitants are faced with the predicament of obesity. Healthy standards of living are not attended to, to persons more so the school going kids. Individuals should also confirm on their diet and shun eating cholesterol rich food. Lack to doing physical exercises at least 30 minutes daily can also result to the risk of obesity and cardiovascular diseases. As a result of poor eating habits and dormancy amongst the youthful cohort, the risk of anguish from cardiovascular disease at an adolescent age is very lofty for the Saudi Arabians. In Saudi Arabia tobacco smoking and harmful alcohol consumption is more and more spreading chiefly amongst the adolescents. It is very widespread with population starting to smoke as young as 12 years of age. Static smoking is also a huge problem. As a consequence occurrence of cardiovascular disease has amplified principally amongst the youthful generation. Behavior modification amongst populace can lead to healthy outcomes. Individuals must take care of themselves and do away with the awful behaviors for instance tobacco smoking and alcohol use in their lifestyles. Thus, diseases such as cardiovascular disease and other linked diseases will have been avoided. Illness prevention, health promotion and community capacity building Over the last twenty years, Saudi Arabia has observed tremendous socio-economic developments leading to significant alterations in its lifestyles and standard of living. These transformations have also been accompanied by changes in their dietary habits and other related social practices, most of which have had negative impacts to the health of the Saudi Arabian populations (Curtis, E. and P. White. 2002). These factors and others as identified above have contributed to the emergence of degenerative diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia, all of which are categorized as cardiovascular diseases. For instance, heart disease and atheroscelerosis alone are responsible for about thirty percent of deaths in Saudi Arabia as stipulated by the Saudi Heart Association. Some of the identified risk factors responsible for cardiovascular diseases in Saudi Arabia include poor dietary habits, cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, smoking, stress, alcohol, lack of exercise and high blood pressure. The first step to take in preventing these diseases is to encourage patients to take care of themselves and have them rectify bad habits in their lifestyle, particularly smoking. Smoking in Saudi Arabia is more prevalent among the young generation and it is feared that these diseases are likely to spread further if smoking is not stopped. However, the most effective method of minimizing risk among the entire population will incorporate population wide interventions. For instance, the government should introduce effective policies and broad health promotion policies. A better use of the country’s resources would involve focusing on the introduction of population wide efforts to lessen the risk factors through multiple educational and economic programs and policies. Compelling evidence reveals that some of the strategies that can be implemented to prevent cardiovascular diseases include maintaining a healthy weight, avoidance of smoking, having at least a thirty minutes regular physical activity daily, limiting energy intake and increasing consumption of omega-3 fatty acids. Health promotion is also an essential aspect in preventing susceptibility to these diseases since this exercise underpins all the primary health care services (Green, L. and M. Kreuter. 2005). This involves facilitating the growth, management and assessment of a comprehensive health care program to guarantee effective provision of care, developing a strategic framework for the sustained execution of health promotion activities, and the strengthening of networks and partnerships with other agencies involved in delivery of health care. Community capacity building should also be promoted as a means to minimize risk to these diseases since this exercise helps in increasing community awareness regarding the factors that promote healthy lifestyles (Schwartz, R et al, 1993). Capacity building also helps to increase the level of participation in healthy activities such as physical activity in each community. It also helps in intensifying the capacity of each community to promote and sustain healthy lifestyles, including a holistic approach to health (Joffres, C et al, 2004). Recommendations The rate of cardiovascular disease is rapidly increasing in Saudi Arabia. This is as a result of illiteracy and ignorance among the Saudi Arabians and as a result, many individuals are losing their lives. In order to curb this, the government should enact bylaws that will reduce consumption of alcohol and tobacco smoking among the young generation. The government should also ensure that social factors influencing the disease are addressed accordingly. Doctors also advised people to modify their eating habits and initiate approaches to good healthy eating styles and need for physical exercises in schools so as to address school going children. This as a result will reduce obesity which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that, a country like Saudi Arabia that usually generates more than 30,000 live births annually should have access to paediatric cardiac centers. It was said that Saudi Arabia utmost needed 20 paediatric cardiology centers. Conclusions The unanticipated progresses from Saudi Arabia in all parts have brought about substantial development in medicine and principally cardiac medicine over the precedent few years. Despite this, services are yet far-off from enough. The ease of access of paediatric cardic services from only three referrals within the same region and lack of sufficient referrals for examining congenital heart diseases in other regions in Saudi Arabia is a primary issue and it justifies attention from Saudi Arabians policy makers. The major health care must be concerned in controlling and avoiding the risk aspects that result to cardiovascular diseases. These risk factors which consist of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and lack of exercise should be concentrated on. Individuals need to be informed in order to develop their knowledge and also promote healthy lifestyles and behavior. Health care teams should partake in health education programmes so as to advance literacy and encourage approach and understanding of individuals. To ensure this is effective, community wide learning programmes ought to be commenced. References Alabdulgader AAA. 2001. Congenital Heart Disease In 740 Subjects: Epidemiological Aspects. Annals of tropical paediatrics. Abbag F. 1998. Pattern Of Congenital Heart Disease In The South-Western Region Of Saudi Arabia. Annals of Saudi medicine. Bhat BA et al. 1997. Pattern of congenital heart disease among children in Madinah Munawara. Journal of the Saudi Heart Association. Curtis, E. and P. White. 2002. Resistance to Change: Causes and Solutions. Nursing Management. Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. 2008. Closing the Gap in a Generation: Health Equity through Action on the Social Determinants of Health. Geneva: World Health Organization. Green, L.W. and M.W. Kreuter. 2005. Health Promotion Planning: An Educational and Ecological Approach (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. Hoffman JIE. 1990. Congenital heart disease: incidence and inheritance. Pediatric clinics of North America. Jaiyesimi F, Ruberu DK, Misra VK. 1993. Pattern Of Congenital Heart Disease In King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Buraidah: Annals of Saudi medicine. Joffres, C., S. Heath, J. Farquharson, K. Barkhouse, C. Latter and D.R. MacLean. 2004. Facilitators and Challenges to Organizational Capacity Building in Heart Health Promotion. Qualitative Health Research. Nakazawa M, Seguchi M, Takao A. 1990. Prevalence Of Congenital Heart Disease In Japan. In: Clark EB, Takao A, eds. Developmental cardiology: morphogenesis and function. Mount Kisco, New York, Futura Publishing Co. Schwartz, R., C. Smith, M.A. Speers, L.J. Dusenbury, F. Bright, S. Hedlund, F. Wheeler and T.L. Schmid. 1993. Capacity Building and Resource Needs of State Health Agencies to Implement Community-Based Cardiovascular Disease Programs. Journal of Public Health Policy. Read More