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17th National Health Sciences Research Symposium held
APP
KARACHI: People between the ages of 15 to 45 years are the commonest victims of road traffic accidents that itself account for nearly 30,000 visits to emergency departments each year in Karachi alone, said Dr Junaid Razzak, an expert in Emergency Medicine. In his presentation during 17th National Health Sciences Research Symposium, focussed on Non Communicable Diseases, organized by Aga Khan University on Wednesday he mentioned stroke and trauma/injuries as the most common causes for disability in the country.
Local and international experts are part of the two-day event to discuss how best to tackle the growing menace of Noncommunicable Diseases. Dr Jeyaraj Pandian of the World Stroke Organisation, India pointed out that between 1990 and 2010 the incidence of stroke in middle income countries had increased by 12 percent and cited health and demographic transition, a sedentary lifestyle, rise in obesity and a rise in hypertension and diabetes as primary causes. Dr Pandian mentioned that in Pakistan there were 350,000 new cases of stroke annually. “Stroke specific fatalities, according to various studies range between 7 and 20 percent in Pakistan,” said Dr Wasay, citing ignorance to the condition as one of the major risk factors. The senior neurologist said 33% of the Pakistani population above the age of 45 is suffering from hypertension, while the number of diabetics in the country is estimated to grow to 13.9 million by 2020; both are risk factors for stroke but unfortunately most people are not aware. Highlighting the health care implications of NCDs for Pakistan, Dr Mohammad Wasay said that 70 percent of the deaths in the country were due to NCDs which was substantially greater than the deaths caused by infectious diseases. Lifestyle modifications were put forth as a possible long term strategy to combatting NCDs by Dr Rozina Karmaliani, Associate Professor, AKU School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk