Find out new application for detecting heart attack
A common cardiac rhythm problem that causes irregular heartbeats, atrial fibrillation, is underdiagnosed both in the UAE and globally.
Atrial fibrillation, which medical professionals refer to as a silent killer, can cause heart failure and a stroke if detected late.
Atrial fibrillation is a very serious disorder that affects 140 million people worldwide, according to Dr. Omar Al Falasi, a consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Rashid Hospital. This number is likely understated.
“Considering that all of the international bodies have constantly acknowledged this, this is [certainly] underdiagnosed. The condition affects 4.8 million people in Europe and five million people in the US. More people are likely to develop atrial fibrillation as they get older. According to Dr. Al Falasi, some of the main causes of this are hypertension, smoking, and drinking.
Speaking during the inaugural atrial fibrillation screening programme launch in the UAE, sponsored by Pfizer in association with FibriCheck and AlTibbi, was Dr. Al Falasi.
Find out new application for detecting heart attack
Patients can use their smartphones to take heart rhythm readings with the FibriCheck platform. The app gives these individuals the actionable information they need to seek prompt medical assistance and avoid major problems like a stroke when rhythm irregularities or indications of atrial fibrillation are discovered. Patients in the UAE can receive telehealth services thanks to AlTibbi.
Pfizer wants to make it easier to screen 100,000 people in the Gulf region.
According to Nadine Tarcha, medical director at Pfizer Gulf, the company keeps working hard to make sure that patients get the treatment they require effectively and gives them the tools they need to take control of their own health by providing them with cutting-edge digital solutions.
According to statistics, atrial fibrillation has a 25% probability of occurring in those over the age of 40, and that risk only rises with time, according to Dr. Al Falasi.
Dr. Omar Al Falasi noted that this illness might affect even young people who smoke and consume alcohol.
“People over the age of 60 who are more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, and renal problems are more prone to experience it. The most typical symptom of atrial fibrillation is palpitation, which is [followed by] chest pain, fatigue, and feeling lightheaded, according to him. He added that by 2050, one in three adults over a certain age will have this condition.
Similarly, the UAE’s population would age more rapidly in the years to come, which will lead to a rise in the number of those affected, he noted.
There are 140 million people who currently experience atrial fibrillation, according to Ayman Sharaiha, co-founder and chief operating officer of AlTibbi. This is a sizable market that the company is looking to tap into.
