Dubai: More than half of the population in Gulf countries suffer from high cholesterol levels, a pharmaceutical company said.
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance in a person's bloodstream that blocks arteries, causing heart attacks and strokes.
The pharmaceutical company, Astra Zeneca, launched a major study to monitor cholesterol control among 5,000 patients in the region, including 500 people from the UAE.
Tarek Rabah, Astra Zeneca president in the Gulf area, said the study was launched in collaboration with the Emirates Cardiac Society.
The study is called ‘Safe at Heart'. Its main aim is to improve the standards of medical care and enhance the awareness levels of patients on the treatment. It aims to decrease the huge burden of cardiovascular diseases in Gulf States.
High cholesterol or hypercholesterolemia affects an estimated 54 per cent of the population in the region. It is attributed to various factors which include a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits.
Rabah said 60 to 70 per cent of patients on medication to control cholesterol had not reached the goal.
"This means that many patients who think that they are controlled because of [the fact that they are] taking medication are actually not."
Heart-related diseases are a leading cause of death in the region.
"Fighting cholesterol is a crucial issue to save thousands of lives," the company said in a statement.
There usually are no symptoms of high cholesterol, especially in early stages. The only way to check if one's cholesterol is high is through a blood test.
