UAE: Doctors stress on multidisciplinary care for lung problems

Abu Dhabi: A silo approach may not be adequate to address unique respiratory challenges faced by children and the elderly, health experts have said.

Instead, they have emphasised on the need for broader multidisciplinary care strategies for both paediatric and senior populations, which are deemed vulnerable groups.

Children often encounter respiratory issues such as asthma, viral wheezing, and more serious conditions like cystic fibrosis (CF), which require vigilant monitoring and management. Seniors, on the other hand, frequently deal with diseases related to age-related decline such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia, the experts pointed out at a recent seminar in Abu Dhabi.

Both demographics benefit from approaches that focus on prevention, early detection, and tailor-made treatment plans to optimise their respiratory health.

Dr Andrew Ives, Consultant Paediatric Pulmonologist at Danat Al Emarat Women and Children’s Hospital in Abu Dhabi, part of the M42 group, stressed the importance of early diagnosis in managing cystic fibrosis, particularly through sweat testing, which is considered the gold standard for CF diagnosis.

Conversely, Dr Nuwan Karunaratne,Consultant Geriatrician at Mubadala Health Dubai, also part of the M42 group, addressed the respiratory challenges faced by the elderly.

He highlighted the common symptoms that lead seniors to seek medical advice, such as persistent cough and shortness of breath.

The seminar also covered the critical role of modern medical tools and practices, such as the use of CPAP and BiPAP machines for managing conditions like sleep apnea, and the significance of remote monitoring devices that provide real-time data on patients’ vital signs.