Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases cause highest number of fatalities in the UAE

Dubai, 21st, April, 2009: The UAE celebrated its 2nd Atherothrombosis Day yesterday at the Mall of the Emirates,

Dubai, supported by H.E Dr. Ali Shakar, General Manager, UAE Ministry of Health and Mr. Jean-Marc Voissier, General Manager, sanofi-aventis pharmaceuticals, Gulf.

The aim of the initiative is to raise awareness of atherothrombosis, an underlying progressive and asymptomatic condition which can potentially lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart attack, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Following on from the success of last year's Atherothrombosis Day, Sanofi-aventis will be extending Atherothrombosis Day to launch in Kuwait and Qatar this year.

"Atherothrombosis day is not only a symbolic gesture to commemorate a group of diseases that have caused suffering in our society," said Dr. Shakar. "It is a day to honor the pro-active efforts of many parties that have joined forces to supply our public with the necessary educational tools to prevent, treat and manage these dangerous ailments."

During this day, two screening activities were launched; one aimed at screening the general public and the other focused on athero-thrombotic at risk  patients - assessing the risk of a recurrence of ischemic events in patients that have already suffered or are at high risk of developing atherothrombosis.

The public screening campaign was held yesterday at Mall of the Emirates. The screening consists of free blood glucose test, measuring blood pressure and body mass index along with expert recommendations on necessary lifestyle changes to prevent atherothrombosis.

Free screenings for athero-thrombotic at risk -patients took place at the Baraha Hospital and will continue to happen every two months. Screening also took place at the Zayed Military Hospital, Abu Dhabi on the 20th. Rashid Hospital in Dubai will hold screenings on the 26th of April, and subsequently every three months.

Patient screening, taking place in above mentioned clinics and hospitals, is different than regular screening. The focus is mostly on the Ankle Brachial Pressure Index known as the ABPI Index. The ABPI Index is the ratio of the blood pressure in the lower limbs to the blood pressure in the arms, which is a great indicator of blocked arteries. The instrument used to calculate the ABPI Index is referred to as a Doppler.  

"We are very enthusiastic to keep Atherothrombosis Day happening every year. With the help and support of our partners, and the UAE Ministry of Health, we hope to prevent or minimize the burden of these diseases on our society," said Mr. Voissier. "We witnessed incredible receptiveness from the patients and the public last year, and so we decided to launch this initiative in Kuwait and Qatar as well. In the near future, we hope to create awareness and prevent the disease in every Middle Eastern country."

Atherothrombotic diseases are the leading cause of death in the UAE. Caused by thickening of the artery walls, atherothrombosis is an underlying common cause of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular deaths - conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. Over time, cholesterol and other fatty materials form plaque on the walls of blood vessels. This build-up leads to a hardening of arteries, making it difficult for smooth blood flow. Atherothrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms on the plaque in the wall of a blood vessel, reducing or completely blocking the flow of blood to specific parts of the body. Blood clots formed in arteries leading to the heart or brain, can cause heart attacks or strokes.

The disease, named from a derivative of atheroma, the fatty deposit in the blood vessel, and thrombosis, the formation of a blood clot, most commonly affects the heart, brain and legs. The parts affected by the disease suffer the consequences of an inadequate blood supply, namely poor function, tissue damage or death.

-Ends- 

About Sanofi-Aventis
Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of everyone. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY). 

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© Press Release 2009