UAE Experts Warn of Increased Risk of Heart Attack While Viewing Stressful Sports Matches

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Doctors Urge Public to be Aware of Cardiovascular Risk

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Physicians at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), have warned of the increased risk of heart attack while viewing stressful sports matches, following the treatment of a cardiac patient during the World Cup final on 13 July.

The patient, a 42 year old male, is currently recovering and in a stable condition.

“Viewing a stressful sports match, like the world cup final, could trigger an acute coronary syndrome - like a heart attack - especially in patients who are already at higher risk, such as those with hypertension and diabetes,” said Dr. Abdulmajeed Al Zubaidi, the cardiologist who was on call the evening of the World Cup, and is Chief Medical Officer at SKMC.

“While there are certainly many other factors that could attribute to heart attacks, such as lack of sleep, or forgetting to take medication, it’s important that the public are aware of their cardiovascular risk and take active steps to reduce or manage it,” Dr. Al Zubaidi said.

A 2008 study in the New England Journal of Medicine, undertaken during the World Cup in Germany in 2006, remarked a stressful football match more than doubles the risk of an acute cardiovascular event, and that preventive measures are urgently needed, particularly in men with known coronary heart disease.

Cardiovascular disease is also a major complication of diabetes, and the leading cause of early death among sufferers of diabetes – according to the American Diabetes Association about 65 percent of people with diabetes die from heart disease and stroke. Figures from the International Diabetes Federation show that almost 20 percent of the local population are affected by diabetes, with no signs that this number decreasing.

SKMC, managed by Cleveland Clinic, is part of the SEHA HealthSystem and owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA), which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

SKMC’s improved process of transferring cardiac patients from the Emergency Department to the catheterisation (cath) lab has led to it becoming one of institutions around the world achieving quality standard of care and to receive accreditation as a Cycle IV Chest Pain Centre for its ability to assess, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.

During 2013 SEHA initiated a project through its Heart & Vascular Service Line to roll out Primary PCI service - life saving treatment following a heart attack - to other SEHA institutions. There are now four cath labs providing Primary PCI within the SEHA system. A new partnership with Ambulance Services is being explored which will mean that any patients with a heart attack is driven straight to the nearest SEHA facility with a cath lab, ensuring patients get this life saving treatment within the appropriate timescales.

-ENDS -

Media Contact:

Rola Abu Hassan

Wallis Marketing Consultants

Tel: +971 56 7753 053

Email: SKMC@wallis-mc.com

Mohamed Lari

SKMC

Tel: +971 2 819 4566

Email: marketing@skmc.ae

About SKMC managed by Cleveland Clinic

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) is located in Abu Dhabi City, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and operates under the management of Cleveland Clinic, consistently named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. SKMC is owned by SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, which oversees operations of all public hospitals in the emirate. SKMC is the flagship institution for the public health system in Abu Dhabi and has several 'Centres of Excellence and aspires to practice contemporary medicine comparable to the best hospitals and medical centres in the world. SKMC provides comprehensive healthcare services in all of the disciplines relevant to the needs and priorities of the community to attain the highest levels of patient satisfaction.

SKMC, the largest hospital and medical city in the UAE, consists of 586-bed tertiary hospital, 14 outpatient specialty clinics and the Abu Dhabi Blood Bank, all of which are accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI). SKMC is also accredited as a Cycle IV Chest Pain Centre with Primary Angioplasty Intervention; and is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for its Main Laboratory and the Abu Dhabi Blood Bank. In addition, SKMC manages a 125-bed Behavioral Sciences Pavilion and an Urgent Care Centre. For further information, please contact us at marketing@skmc.ae  or visit www.skmc.ae.

About the SEHA HealthSystem and the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA)

SEHA is health in Arabic.  The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC– whose marketing identity is SEHA – is an independent, public joint stock company created to develop the curative activities of the public healthcare system in Abu Dhabi. The company owns and operates all the public hospitals and clinics of the emirate of Abu Dhabi which together make up the SEHA HealthSystem. SEHA is committed to providing high quality, cost effective healthcare in a socially responsible way on par with international standards measured through accessibility, affordability, choice and satisfaction.  SEHA has partnered with internationally recognised hospital managers to achieve these goals.  These include Johns Hopkins Medicine International, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, VAMED, Vienna Medical University and Bumrungrad International. SEHA owns and operates 12 hospitals with 2,644 beds, 62 ambulatory care, family care and urgent care centres and 2 blood banks. SEHA is one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in the Middle East, with 16,500 doctors, nurses, ancillary care and administrative personnel in its employ. Visit our website at www.seha.ae.

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