Cardiovascular diseases

According to estimates, around 34% of deaths caused by noncommunicable diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region are due to cardiovascular diseases. In the Region, nearly 40% of adults, or two out of every five people, have high blood pressure, with rates varying between 34% (Djibouti and United Arab Emirates) and 48% (Iraq) across different countries. Both men and women are almost equally affected. The Eastern Mediterranean Region has the highest prevalence of diabetes, ranging from 7% (Somalia) to 18% (Egypt), making it the worst region globally for this condition.

When it comes to adults above the age of 15, data from the Region highlights Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates as having the highest rates of overweight and obesity, exceeding 70%, especially among women. The growing issue of obesity among school children is a significant concern. Physical inactivity rates in the Region are also higher compared to other regions, with about 50% of women and over a third of men not engaging in sufficient physical activity. Tobacco use is on the rise as well, with smoking prevalence among adult men ranging from 14% to 57%.

One key challenge faced by low-resource countries in the Region is the affordability and accessibility of essential medicines for managing common cardiovascular diseases. Many cases of hypertension and diabetes can be effectively treated at primary health care facilities. The involvement of doctors and trained health care professionals is crucial in detecting and treating high blood pressure. To assist health care providers in offering affordable treatment for high blood pressure at the primary care level, WHO has developed guidelines and tools such as the WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions for Primary Health Care and the WHO HEARTS package. The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean also provides a free online training course on HEARTS, which can be accessed here.