The 13th Annual Pulmonary Hypertension Conference Explores The New Treatment Developments

The 13th Annual Pulmonary Hypertension Conference of the Saudi Association for Pulmonary Hypertension (SAPH) was inaugurated lately in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya. The conference was attended by a majority of specialists and experts from Europe and Japan.

Dr. Abdullah M. Aldalaan, President of the Saudi Association for Pulmonary Hypertension (SAPH) and Consultant & The pulmonologist at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre stated that the annual conference is widely recognized for being the biggest of it’s kind in the MENA region.  

Dr. Abdullah M. Aldalaan noted that “Pulmonary hypertension is one of the few diseases that require an accurate and rapid diagnosis and immediate initiation of treatment as it can lead to right heart failure and death. This the deadly disease which is denoted by the short name (PAH) affects about 15 to 50 people out of every million.

The 13th annual conference (SAPH2020) aims to increase awareness especially among medical professionals and create a platform in which knowledge and expertise on the latest and best practice methods in pulmonary hypertension will be shared.

In addition, the conference focuses on investigating the local incidence, prevalence, and pathobiology of PVD in the region as well as improving the diagnosis and management of PVD, by promoting basic and clinical research.

One of the notable speakers in the 13th edition is Prof. Majdy Idrees, Head, Pulmonary Vascular Unit at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, who stated that the currently available treatments are aimed at delaying the progression of the disease, however, doctors may resort to a "lung transplant" eventually.

Dr. Majdy also stressed that early diagnosis and appropriate treatment is very effective in reducing the risk of heart failure.

On another note, the Saudi Association for Pulmonary Hypertension (SAPH) valued Johnson & Johnson’s commitment to tackle this disease by promoting public awareness in the society to encourage seeking early diagnoses which provide the patients with an opportunity to lead a normal healthy life for a longer period.

Abdulaziz Alsheikh, General Manager of Johnson & Johnson in Saudi Arabia has said “Our efforts in raising awareness for the implications of this serious disease and researching treatment developments through creating a platform for regional medical professionals to engage in exchange for knowledge and expertise on the latest and best practice methods in pulmonary hypertension is part of the company's mission and social responsibility”.

“This also comes in line with the Quality of Life Program 2020, one of the Saudi Vision 2030 realization programs with a general aim of improving the individual's lifestyle in Saudi Arabia through improving the quality of healthcare”.