“Life-course Prevention and Control”
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including heart attacks and strokes, are the number-one cause of death globally: they are the cause of 17.3 million deaths annually, and this number can be increased. By 2030, almost 23.6 million people will die from CVDs, mainly from heart disease and stroke, unless effective interventions are taken.
According to the MOH Statistical Yearbook and the WHO, CVDs are the cause of 42 percent of the Kingdom's deaths in 2010. As regards the CVD-deaths at MOH hospitals, recent reports show that there is a slight improvement in the mortality of cardiovascular diseases at MOH hospitals over the period from 2008 to 2010, according to the Statistical Yearbook 1431H. Mortality went down from 17.99% to 16.39% and then 16.74% in the years 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively.
The number of CVD patients received by primary healthcare centers (according to the MOH Statistical Yearbook 1431H) is 93.003 (50.213 men and 42.790 women). The total number of cardiac patients received by hospitals is 167.499, whereas the number of rheumatic heart disease patients is 140.322.
The World Heart Day is activated every year on September 29th. This year's day is celebrated under the theme: “Life-course Prevention and Control”. It is basically intended to raise people's awareness of the health factors associated to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as obesity, lack of physical activity and smoking (tobacco-use), as well as the ways and suggestions to reduce the burden of such factors to the lowest possible level.
The logo of this year's World Heart Day places particular emphases on children and women. The CVDs afflicting these two groups are not alike. Women underestimate their CVD risk, due to the common incidence of cardiovascular diseases among men and older persons; even though almost half of the 17.3 million annual deaths occur in women. Women/mothers are often the “gate keeper” to their family’s health hence a key influencer in keeping their hearts healthy.
Children are particularly at risk, since they have little control over their environment and can be limited in choices to live heart-healthily. CVD morbidity is likely to increase among children proper punitive actions are taken.
Events & Activities:
In cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Heart Federation is organizing health events and activities in over 100 countries. Such activities include conducting medical examinations, organizing marches and running competitions, with a view to maintaining\ increasing people's fitness. That's to be added to public conversations, artistic shows, scientific symposia, exhibitions, festivals, and sports competitions.
Targeted Groups:
- Women suffering from CVDs.
- Children.
- The public.
- Health decision makers.
- Health workers.
Objectives and General Messages of the World Heart Day:
- Enhancing people's heart health by reducing the risk factors associated with such behaviors and lifestyles as smoking, lack of activity and malnutrition.
- Focusing on children and women with cardiovascular diseases, by conducting early examinations and providing the necessary treatment.
- Raising people's health awareness, by such means as awareness brochures, on the risk factors triggering CVDs and strokes.
- Developing health policies (such as banning tobacco-use).
- Fostering healthy dietary habits, by providing sufficient information on the harms of overweight and unhealthy food, as well as including whole grain meals in the diet, and eating natural fruit and vegetables.
- Raising people's awareness of the importance of exercise, for at least 30 minutes a day, given its necessity for reducing the risk of CVDs.
- Providing appropriate places for sport and exercise.
Internationally approved date: 29/9/2013
Domestically approved date: 23/11/1434H
Theme of the World Heart Day:
“Life-course Prevention and Control”
Logo:
Related Links: