Over 25 per cent of deaths in the UAE are caused by cardiovascular disease, and high cholesterol levels are a major cause of heart disease, according to a cardiology expert.

Heart disease is the No 1 cause of death in the UAE, stated Dr Omar K Hallak, board member, Emirates Cardiac Society and Consultant Interventional Cardiologist/Chief Intervention Cardiology department, American Hospital in Dubai.

“Most patients don’t achieve the desired reduction in their cholesterol levels because they don’t follow the treatment, such as diet and exercise recommendations, despite being treated with cholesterol-lowering medication. Half of patients with high cholesterol don’t achieve results either because the prescribed dose is not enough or the medicine is not the right one.”

“Inspite of being on a cholesterol lowering treatment, you might not be at your cholesterol goal, putting you at higher risk of heart disease,” he added.

To answer the question of how common it is for patients in the GCC not to reach the desired cholesterol levels, the Cepheus study was launched in October of 2009, as collaborative project between the Emirates Cardiac Society and AstraZeneca. Samples of 5,300 patients across the GCC, including 500 from the UAE, were taken.

“This is the first step in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease and improving the quality of cardiac care in the near future, by being well informed. The finding of the study will mirror the real situation in the Gulf,” Dr Hallak added.

“The Cepheus research project involved monitoring 5,300 patients across the Gulf who are taking lipid lowering medication. It was devised to assess whether their drug regimes are being effective,” said Dr Fadel Shaker, medical manager AstraZeneca Gulf.

It has been proved that a 10 per cent overall reduction in cholesterol levels can cut heart disease by half, with scientists saying that men over 40 years of age (a group that is particularly at risk) only have to reduce their cholesterol levels by 10 per cent to lower their risk of heart disease by 50 per cent.-TradeaArabia News Service