It is estimated that 54% of deaths from noncommunicable diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region are due to cardiovascular diseases. Deaths attributed to cardiovascular diseases (of total deaths) range from 49% in Oman to 13% in Somalia. The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is due to sedentary lifestyles and common risk factors, such as hypertension (ranging from 28% in United Arab Emirates to 41% in Libya and Morocco); diabetes (ranging from 4% in the Islamic Republic of Iran to 19% in Sudan) and hypercholesterolemia (ranging from 14% in Lebanon to 52% in Islamic Republic of Iran).
Compiled data for adults, aged above 15 years, from the region show the highest levels of overweight in Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, where the prevalence of overweight/obesity is reported to be over 70%, particularly among women. The escalating level of overweight and obesity among children is of particular concern, where prevalence of obesity among school children is increasing. The Region has higher rates of physical inactivity than other regions. About 50% of women and more than a third of men are insufficiently active. Tobacco use is also rising. The prevalence of smoking among adult men ranges from between 7% and 57%.
Affordability and availability of essential medicines for the management of common cardiovascular diseases is a key challenge for low-resource countries of the region.
The Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean gives high priority to CVD prevention and control programmes. National surveillance programmes for CVD risk factors and community-based prevention programmes have been initiated, and national and international workshops are held to increase awareness and educate health professionals about the CVD epidemic.
Healthy lifestyles are also advocated through country workshops and health education programmes. In several Member States, WHO has supported the development of national clinical guidelines for cost-effective management of hypertension, with emphasis on primary care.