Abu Dhabi has three main Public Health challenges:
- Cardiovascular disease (diseases of the heart & blood vessels)
- Cancer
- Road death
Other current public health challenges include improving our screening for diseases, mental health and continuing to refine our vaccines programme.
The Public Health team aims to work with others to limit preventable death and disease today and to avoid a rapid fall in life expectancy over the next 20 years.
UAE – Developed-world Pattern of Disease
Evidence suggests the United Arab Emirates has a developed-world pattern of disease; whilst clean water, and sanitation have reduced the level of some infectious diseases, there is a growing epidemic of diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Data shows that life expectancy at birth in the UAE is around 73 years. This is comparable with other developed countries. In addition, our vaccination rates are also high, and we have an ongoing initiative to achieve World Health Organisation (WHO) accreditation for our immunisation programme by the end of 2008.
Very high levels of diabetes, cancer, heart disease
Data also reveals that levels of diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease are very high, in spite of a very young population (average age 28 years, slightly younger among UAE Nationals).
Our population has high rates of “metabolic syndrome”, consisting of diabetes (or “pre-diabetes”) and two or more of the following:
- High blood pressure [more than 140/90mmHg]
- Dyslipidaemia (problems with fats in the blood):
- Triglycerides (a type of fat) more than 1.695mmol/L
- Low-density lipoprotein (“bad cholesterol”) more than
- High-density lipoprotein (“good cholesterol”) less than 1.0mmol/L
- Abdominal obesity [waist:hip ratio more than 0.90 (men) and 0.85 (women); body mass index more than 30kg/m2]
- Protein in the urine
According to the WHO, the UAE has the second highest rate of diabetes in the World while research from the UAE University estimates up to 29% of the population over 30 has diabetes. Experts agree that our population will suffer increasing rates of diseases such as heart disease, cancer and stroke as a consequence of these risk factors.
The HAAD Public Health team is tackling these issues with a series of initiatives to encourage regular exercise, promote healthy eating, and discourage tobacco and shisha smoking. There is clear evidence that this will help prevent a substantial fall in life expectancy. But we need to act together, now.
UAE – Highest rate of road death in the world
Data also shows the UAE has the highest rate of road death in the world, in spite of modern cars, good roads and good driving conditions. The data confirm that Nationals are nearly twice as likely to die in road accidents as Non-Nationals, and young men (<35 years old) are the most likely to die.
The impact of such premature death for families is very high, as is the economic burden both for the dependants and the Emirate as a whole. The Public Health team is working with a broad coalition to reduce the level of road death, for example, through enforcing the use of seatbelts by adults, and the use of child car seats for our children.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Abu Dhabi has an enormous Public Health challenge. Working with others we aim to limit preventable death and disease today and to avoid a rapid fall in life expectancy over the next 20 years.
Updated: November 2007