Kuwait forum highlights advances in atrial fibrillation treatment

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 12: Chairman of the Fourth Scientific Forum on Atrial Fibrillation, Head of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit at Salman Al-Dabbous Cardiac Center (Adan Hospital) and member of Kuwait Heart Association Dr. Samah Al-Kharji underscored the need to keep pace with scientific advancements in diagnosing and treating atrial fibrillation. In a press statement regarding the forum that the Salman Al-Dabbous Cardiac Center organized recently, Al-Kharji called for collaboration among specialists to improve the quality of healthcare provided to patients in Kuwait. Cardiac electrophysiology specialists from various centers and hospitals in the country participated in the forum.

According to Al-Kharji, the forum was an opportunity to exchange expertise and clinical experiences and to discuss the latest global medical guidelines. She stressed that this supports continuing medical education and contributes to the development of diagnostic and treatment services for heart rhythm disorders. She revealed that atrial fibrillation is one of the most common heart rhythm disorders and it is associated with an increased risk of stroke and heart failure. She underscored the importance of early diagnosis, assessing risk factors, and formulating treatment plans tailored to the condition of each patient. She confirmed that a published observational study on atrial fibrillation treatment methods at the center revealed that hypertension is the most prevalent chronic condition among the atrial fibrillation patients in the center, along with diabetes and obesity. She disclosed that Kuwait provides an accessible network of healthcare centers for diagnosing and treating chronic non-communicable diseases, including detecting atrial fibrillation through electrocardiography, in addition to specialized cardiac centers offering the most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.

She indicated that the scientific sessions tackled the latest global recommendations for treating atrial fibrillation, advancements in cardiac catheterization techniques, and strategies to prevent stroke associated with the condition. “In Kuwait, we take pride in the full support of the Ministry of Health in providing cutting-edge equipment and treatment methods. This elevates the standing of our centers to the level of advanced global facilities and contributes to delivering high-quality specialized patient care,” she asserted. She went on to say that discussions also covered the role of modern treatments for obesity and metabolic disorders in mitigating risk factors associated with atrial fibrillation and improving treatment outcomes. She added that the sessions highlighted the importance of addressing these factors before the disease manifests, as well as adopting an integrated approach that combines prevention, treatment and follow up care.

By Mohammad Ghanem Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff