Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 28 February 2018-   Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, recently held a symposium in collaboration with the Emirates Diabetes Society. The event, which was organized within the Diabetes and Ramadan International Alliance (DAR), where Boehringer Ingelheim addressed the rising incidence of type 2 diabetes and the link with cardiovascular disease. 

 

The medical gathering brought together leading experts in internal medicine and primary care physicians to highlight the latest innovative, convenient medical solutions which offers more protection for patients whilst reducing blood glucose, body weight and blood pressure as well as reducing the relative risk of cardiovascular death.

 

Medical experts also presented the latest findings of the EMPA-REG OUTCOME® Trial , a dedicated cardiovascular outcomes trial designed for people with type-2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. 

The trial took place in 590 clinical sites in 42 countries with 7,020 participants and was observed for a median duration of 3.1 years. The EMPA-REG OUTCOME® Trial’s results highlighted that the need for an additional indication for the reduction of the risk of cardiovascular death in Type 2 diabetes patients and established CVS diseases.5

 

Despite advances in care, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still the number one cause of death among people with type 2 diabetes.   The Ministry of Health and Prevention in the UAE reported that CVD is a leading cause of mortality in the UAE, with 30% of deaths as a result of cardiovascular disease. 

 

In 2017, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) revealed that17.3% of the UAE population between the ages of 20 and 79 have type 2 diabetes. In addition, there are over one million people living with diabetes in the UAE, placing the country 15th worldwide for age-adjusted comparative prevalence.   

 

Dr. Mohamed Hassanein, Chair of Diabetes and Ramadan (DAR) International Alliance and Consultant Endocrinologist at Dubai Hospital said, “The UAE government’s vision for 2021 emphasizes the importance of preventive medicine and seeks to reduce lifestyle related diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases to ensure a longer, healthy life for its citizens. In order to address this, and due to the need to drive more awareness around cardiovascular diseases in the United Arab Emirates, there is the need to work closely with the primary care service and government bodies to meet this goal and align better outcomes for the population which has a high profile of cardiovascular risk factors.”

 

Dr. Hassanein also noted, “Given the importance and relationship between CVD and diabetes, The EMPA REG Trial results showed an impressive 32% reduction of all-cause mortality and 38% of CVD related death.  To that extent, the continuous change of lifestyle in the UAE has led to a striking increase in rates of type 2 diabetes. The availability of a holistic approach and comprehensive medical solutions in the UAE, aim at addressing the management of cardiovascular implications related to type 2 diabetes.”

 

Trends also indicate that the prevalence of diabetes in the UAE is rising at a faster rate than both the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the rest of the world. Rapid economic growth, sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets characteristic to the UAE are all risk factors, leading to the number of people with diabetes expecting to double to 2.2 million by 2040.  

 

In addition, Dr. Hani Sabbour, Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Assistant Professor of Cardiology also noted, “The relationship between diabetes and CVD is complex; diabetes is a risk factor for CVD and conditions such as high blood pressure and obesity, that are more common in people with diabetes, are also risk factors for CV disease . This complex interaction makes it necessary to apply a holistic approach to the management of this chronic disorder. The risk of dying from cardiovascular disease is up to four times higher in people with diabetes . Patients need to be better educated on how to modify cardiovascular risk factors in order to offer the best chance of improving CVD outcomes.”

 

Mazen Bashir, Boehringer Ingelheim’s General Manager and Head of Human Pharma across the Gulf added, “At Boehringer Ingelheim, we have been successful in developing comprehensive protocols towards managing type 2 diabetes. Our broad and growing product portfolio and continued determination to provide real and innovative solutions, aims ultimately to make life better for all those affected by diabetes. In addition, at the core of our operations is a robust focus on research and development that continues to guide us in tailoring our overall approach. We will continue to drive targeted awareness programs by working with our key partners including the government to drive maximum value in the UAE and the communities we operate from.”