Through a comprehensive study targeting 20 thousand people over 5 years

"Dubai Health" monitors the causes of chronic diseases among citizens

The press conference was held at the Dubai Health Authority headquarters.

■ from the source

The Dubai Health Authority announced the start of a comprehensive study to monitor and track the most prominent chronic pathogens among citizens from the age of 18 years and over, as part of a long-term national study targeting 20,000 people within five years, and continuing to include the largest number of citizens.

The authority stated that the study is being carried out in cooperation with New York University Abu Dhabi under the slogan "a healthy future for the Emirates", in order to reach an advanced system for the prevention of genetic and genetic diseases, as well as chronic diseases.

The head of the study team, Dr. Mona Tahlak, said during a press conference held the day before yesterday at the headquarters of the Dubai Health Authority, that "the study targets 20 thousand healthy Emirati volunteers from the age of 18 years and over", noting that the study began four years ago in Abu Dhabi. And it was able to gather 8000 volunteers, including 400 volunteers from Dubai.

She pointed out that the process of receiving volunteers stopped in 2020 due to the outbreak of the (Covid-19) pandemic, but it has returned again to receive volunteers wishing to participate from all emirates of the country, and an agreement will soon be signed with the Ministry of Health and Community Protection to involve them in the study, in order to cover the UAE. The other is to make it easier for citizens wishing to participate in the study, which aims to reach an advanced system for the prevention of genetic and genetic diseases, as well as chronic diseases.

She added that the challenges facing the study lie in obtaining sufficient numbers of volunteers, especially since the culture of volunteerism is still not widespread enough in the country for several reasons, including being busy with work or with the family, and we understand that well. "But when it comes to the interest of the state we expect "That there be more understanding among the citizens, and we hope during the coming period that we will reach the required number in the study, which is 20 thousand citizens and citizens."

"The study, which is the first of its kind at the country level, will help doctors and researchers in the future to conduct their medical research to bring it to the world," said Associate Director of Public Health Research at New York University Abu Dhabi, Dr. Abdul Shakour Abdullah.

He added: “There are procedures that the volunteer must do, including an acknowledgment of approval, after which he gets an appointment in the clinics currently available in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which number eight clinics, and other clinics will soon be available in the rest of the Emirates, after which he will fill out the questionnaire for the study, and it is done in the clinic Conducting the required analyzes for the volunteer, such as urine, blood, etc., and after five years, the volunteer is asked about diseases that may appear in him, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or others, to find out the causes that led to the emergence of these diseases, and then recommendations are submitted to the concerned authorities to develop preventive policies and better diagnosis Down to the most appropriate treatment.

A consultant diabetes and endocrinologist at Dubai Hospital, Dr. Fathia Al-Awadi, said, “The study is conducted on people who do not suffer from any problems or diseases, so that the participants are followed up for a period ranging between 10 and 15 years to find out the reasons that led to their infection with some diseases, whether in terms of their impact. Dietary patterns or daily behaviors, such as smoking or lack of physical activity, etc., and then raising recommendations to decision-makers in the country to take preventive steps.

Diabetics

The results of the national survey in 2019 showed that the prevalence of diabetes among citizens in the Emirate of Dubai reached 19%, indicating that 50% of citizens and residents over the age of 50 years have diabetes, and here lies the importance of the study that the Health Authority conducts in cooperation with New York University In Abu Dhabi, which will enable the concerned authorities to set preventive policies, and enable the treating physicians to better diagnose and treat diseases.

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