Heart disease was the top killer in Abu Dhabi last year

ABU DHABI // Cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of death in the emirate last year, followed by injuries and cancer.

Abu Dhabi has high rates of lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity and diabetes, but cardiovascular diseases accounted for 36.7 per cent of 3,015 deaths last year, according to the Health Authority Abu Dhabi.

“Without major changes, these rates are set to increase further as the young population ages,” the authority said.

Dr Georgie Thomas, a cardiologist at Burjeel Hospital, said he was not surprised that heart disease was the leading killer, given the lifestyles of UAE residents. “It is becoming a leading killer all over the world and we are not an exception,” he said.

Work-related stress, smoking, poor diets and lack of exercise amount to self-destruction. “It’s actually killing us,” he said,

People need 1,800 calories in a typical day, but consumption of fizzy drinks and unhealthy foods increase their calorie intake. “What we consume is close to 6,000 to 7,000 calories a day,” he said.

Injuries caused 19.6 per cent of deaths last year, with road accidents making up 62 per cent of 485 injury-related deaths. Falls or falling objects accounted for 11 per cent of such deaths, and suicides 8 per cent.

Meanwhile, occupational injuries caused 18.4 per cent of overall deaths, while childhood injuries caused 12.2 per cent of overall deaths.

Cancer caused 12.9 per cent of deaths last year in the emirate, chiefly breast, colorectal, lymphoid and haematopoietic cancers.

The authority’s plan to prioritise disease prevention is an important step when healthcare systems around the world historically focus on treatment, said Amer Al Kindi, an expert on healthcare policy.

The benefits that accrue from disease-prevention schemes might not be obvious but they would have a positive influence on society, said Mr Al Kindi.

“There is a lack of an event and people tend to overlook these benefits. They take them for granted,” he said.

Disease prevention requires collaboration with government agencies in education, transport, urban planning, environment and law enforcement.

But it can take decades to yield the rewards. In Australia, it took 40 years to bring about positive results from smoking-cessation campaigns.

“You have to start now and be consistent, but you have to be patient. It takes many years to see change,” said Mr Al Kindi.

lcarroll@thenational.ae