Home
Articles
Case Studies
White Papers
Events
Research Papers
Media Partnership
Multimedia
The first UAE-wide comprehensive study to determine the prevalence of chronic respiratory problems such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will start next week.
The research that is being undertaken by the University of Sharjah and UAE health authorities will cover up to 1,500 residents who will be randomly approached and asked about symptoms or signs of chronic respiratory illness, including cough and shortness of breath.
Participants will also be questioned about their smoking habits and the environment in which they live, to help determine the prevalence of smoking, and the impact of air pollution.
The study’s announcement coincides with the November 19 World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Day (COPD) to highlight smoking-related diseases that are often only diagnosed when people reach their 50′s and 60′s after years of tobacco use. Treatment includes drug and oxygen therapies.
About eight out of every 1,000 people globally suffer from the disease, many of whom are undiagnosed, according to Dr Bassam Mahboub, associate professor of the medical faculty at the University of Sharjah, and vice-chairman of the Emirates Respiratory Society, who will lead the new study.
“This is an important study that will fill a large gap in knowledge about the prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases, including COPD, asthma and allergic rhinitis across the UAE,” Dr Mahboub said.
“The first part of the research will look at the prevalence of symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath in a representative group of the population. We will also be asking participants about smoking which will give us a more accurate picture of tobacco and shisha use, about which we still have little information,” he added.
“Our new study will ask about the environments people live in, through which we hope to be able to show differences in respiratory disease between those who live in heavily polluted urban areas, and rural areas,” Dr Mahboub said.
Why dfo you have to sell the John Hopkins on COPD. Most people with Copd can not affore to buy it. I paid over 3000 dollars this yr so far in medicine co-pay alone. @0 dollars may not seem might yoy,but it is a great deak to me.
I have know I have COPD for 7 yrs. They say I am at end stage. I use5 liters of 02 24/7. I suffer daily from this disease