RIYADH — The Saudi Heart Association (SHA), in its three-day 29th annual conference that concluded on Saturday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Riyadh revealed the alarming presence of the cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the Saudi Arabia and their estimated current and future burden on the economy.

The gathering was held in conjunction with the Association’s 4th Saudi Arabian Cardiac Intervention Society (SACIS) Forum.

At the press conference on the first day of the event, Dr. Khalid Al Habib, professor of cardiology, head of National Heart Center-Saudi Health Council, said as a professional organization, SHA’s role is limited to providing the accurate information and disseminating data on CVD and their impact, and likewise reach out to community level to discuss the CVD and how to prevent them or the proper way of addressing them once they are present in any member of the family. “We don’t have legislative authority on policy matters,” he said.

Dr. Mohamed R. Arafah, professor of cardiology at King Saud University, outlined the causes of CVD and how to reduce the modifiable risk factors.

Holding the forum alongside the SHA29 conference enhances the scientific content of the conference and provides synergy to this scientific event – the largest gathering of this sort in the Gulf and the Middle East with the participation of more than 5,500 researchers and medical practitioners.

This year’s conference is different in two major aspects — it is concurrent with the hosting of the 4th SACIS forum, and the conference theme of value-based cardiovascular healthcare that will showcase the latest in the field of research and medical sciences, particularly the expanding application of nano-medicine in coronary artery disease.

Dr. Hussam Al Faleh, President of SHA, said as with every year, “we promise to provide a rich and exciting scientific program that combines the newest updates in cardiovascular care, and highlights cutting edge technology employed in the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular diseases, along with highlights from local and regional scientific research.”

He further said: “We have increased the number of joint scientific sessions between various SHA affiliated societies and working groups and international societies and entities such as the ESC, ACC, the Houston Methodist, the Cleveland clinic, the Gulf heart association, ASNC, and EACVI. Overall, SHA29 will organize more than 55 scientific sessions in 17 tracks. In addition to the exchange of knowledge, the SHA conference provides a great forum for networking between cardiovascular healthcare professionals.”

Moreover, Dr. Al Faleh said SHA aspires to be the first national reference for all matters related to the heart health care of people in Saudi Arabia, and be pioneer in the Middle East and be a platform for all health initiatives in the region.

SHA has chosen value-based cardiovascular care as its theme for SHA29 as it is reflected in the scientific program, as well as in the plenary sessions, and top experts in value-based health care will speak about its application in cardiovascular care.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing major changes in the way health care is practiced. It is imperative to change the current health care system in order to accommodate our current and future health needs, especially in chronic non-communicable disease. The national transformation program in its second version -NTP 2.0- and Vision 2030 has drawn a road map towards this new healthcare system. Among the core strategic objectives of the NTP 2.0 in health, is building a health care system that is value-based, and in the spirit of transformation and in recognizing our vital role as a professional society to support the transformation efforts in Saudi Arabia,” SHA president remarked.

Dr. Khalid Al-Habib Said that Latest available data revealed that by 2035, the number of cases will more than double, with CeVD (cerebrovascular disease or stroke) posting 254% increase in costs to $1.1 billion, and IHD (Ischemic Heart Disease or heart attack registering a 279% in costs to $5.9 billion.

Dr. Arafah moreover disclosed that Saudis and patients from other Gulf patients come with acute coronary syndrome at age of 58, which is a decade younger than the average age worldwide.

He added that 77% of statin users in the kingdom are very high risk patients for an event, and 67% of secondary prevention patients using statins are not achieving their target goals.

On the other hand, Dr. Hussam Al-Faleh President of SHA, talks about and identify potential roadblocks on the road to effective prevention, detection and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and in cholesterol management in the Kingdom. Side effects and concerns about side effects are a common roadblock to successful cholesterol treatment, he noted.

He said the World Heart Federation Cholesterol Roadmap is dedicated to achieving the 25% reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 2025. It aims to reduce cholesterol in secondary and primary prevention of CVD and in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia.

In the Roadmap, the WHF calls for more awareness of healthier lifestyles and diet, increased screening, and testing for cholesterol in communities; more effective initiation of statin treatment and adherence to drug treatments in primary and secondary prevention of CVD; better detection and treatment of patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH); better physician education and support; and reform of drug availability and affordability.

The Cholesterol Roadmap details several roadblocks and solutions to improve detection rates, treatment and management of cholesterol on an international level. They are:

• A lack of awareness among physicians about the importance of universal screening.

• Low access to health facilities among poor or remote populations.

• Limited facilities for testing blood samples in primary care.

• Limited lab facilities in remote rural populations.

• poor education/training among physicians regarding statin treatment.

• The high cost of statins for patients.

• Lack of awareness among patients regarding importance of adherence to statin treatment.

• Patient fear of side-effects of treatment.

• Poor patient access to health professionals for follow-up and support towards adherence.

• Environmental barriers to lifestyle modification.

• Low physician capacity.

• Lack of awareness of physicians and patients about life-long treatment.

SFDA approved recently Amgen’s Repatha (evolocumab). (evolocumab) is a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). binds to PCSK9 and inhibits circulating PCSK9 from binding to the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR), preventing PCSK9-mediated LDLR degradation and permitting LDLR to recycle back to the liver cell surface. By inhibiting the binding of PCSK9 to LDLR, evolocumab increases the number of LDLRs available to clear LDL from the blood, thereby lowering LDL-C levels providing up to additional 75% reduction in LDL-C over statins and helping up to 94% of atients to achieve their target goals below 70mg/dl regardless statin type or dose and it is simple fixed dose once every two weeks for better compliance which gives new hope to Saudi patients in the kingdom.

“If you don't know where you are going, how will you get there? Research shows that people who know their goals, follow their cholesterol levels over time, and keep track of their progress tend to stick to their treatment,” Al-Habib concluded. — SG