| Aziz Idris |
DESPITE medical advancements, death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still a leading cause of death worldwide with more than 17 million lives lost each year, around one in three deaths globally. Brunei is not exempted from this disease’s pattern.
CVD death remains as the second cause of death in the country only after cancer with the number of CVD patients in Brunei also increasing every year.
This was revealed by the President of the Cardiac Society of Brunei Darussalam (CSBD), Dato Paduka Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar in his opening remarks as the guest of honour for the CSBD 3rd Annual Cardiology Conference held at The Rizqun International Hotel yesterday.
Some 250 people comprising nurses, doctors, and allied health practitioners attended the annual conference, and according to Dato Paduka Dr Haji Mohd Isham, it shows their commitment as health professionals to help and educate the public on the importance of living healthy lifestyles by learning a wide range of important cardiovascular topics ranging from statin therapy to management of heart failure and to management of arrhythmias during the event.
Among the topics discussed during the first session was on ‘Electrophysiology: Past, Present and Future’ by Dr Teo Wee Siong, Consultant Electrophysiologist, Singapore and President of Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS), ‘The Management of Acute Heart Failure’ by Dr Ezam Emran, Consultant Cardiologist of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital, and ‘Cardiology and Diabetes: Co-relation to Obesity’ by Dr Kan Yuk Man, Consultant Bariatric Surgeon, Singapore.
President of Cardiac Society of Brunei Darussalam (CSBD), Dato Paduka Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar, handing an award to a recipient during the CSBD 3rd Annual Cardiology Conference. – AZIZ IDRIS
President of Cardiac Society of Brunei Darussalam (CSBD), Dato Paduka Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar, speaking during the CSBD 3rd Annual Cardiology Conference. – AZIZ IDRIS
Dato Dr Haji Isham further revealed the number of patients having cardiovascular disease in Brunei is also increasing every year with patients having angiograms having risen from 659 in 2010 to 1,011 in 2015 while open heart surgery also increased from 140 patients in 2010 to 206 patients in 2015 with the mean age of patients at about 56 years old.
“Being a small country with a small population growth of less than 2 per cent per year, this is alarming. Therefore it’s paramount that as a society we should work hand-in-hand with the government through the Ministry of Health and other agencies in promoting healthy lifestyles – ‘Prevention is Better than Cure’,” he noted.
He believes that by increasing awareness, CVD can be tackled, intervened early or even prevented. He was happy to note that many weekly healthy activities are being organised by government agencies and NGOs, ranging from a healthy walk to running and cycling with very encouraging participation from the public.
“It is this kind of awareness and participation as a society and individuals we would like not only to encourage but also should facilitate. We should educate the public more not only about the symptoms and signs of cardiovascular disease but also the risks that could lead to CVD,” he added.
During the opening ceremony, various awards were also presented to outstanding cardiologists and supporters of the CSBD.
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