Robert S. H. Istepanian
Imperial College London, UK
Title: The Clinical Evidence and Challenges of mobile health for Diabetes Management in the Arab Counteries – From Pilotitis to service delivery
Biography
Biography: Robert S. H. Istepanian
Abstract
The alarming prevalence of diabetes is the Middle East and North Africa Region ( MENA) and particulary in the Gulf states is becoming a major health challenge with social and economic impact. According to the latest WHO statistics, the prevalence of diabetes in the Middle East region has seen one of the highest, soaring from 5.9% of adults in 1980 to 13.7% in 2014, with the Gulf counteries including KSA, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait having higher prevalnce rates. According to IDF estimates, healthcare spending on treating diabetes in the Middle East and North Africa region was US$16.8bn in 2014; this is set to reach US$24.7bn by 2035. Clinically, diabetes self management is increasingly beccoming an important approach for better mointoring and management of diabetes both for Type-1 and Type-2. Increasing clinical studies advocated the evidence and benefits of mobile diabetes management using smart phones as viable approach for effective lowering of HbA1c levels particulary for Type-1 and also for Type-2 patients. However, there is dearth of similar studies and clinical work in this region and the Gulf counteries and mostly as small pilot studies.
Considering the tranformative role of mobile health as an important healthcare service delivery mechanism being endorsed from major global institutions such as the WHO, ITU and the World Bank, supported with major investments and support from global mobile and pharmacutical and medical devices industries. This is combined with massive increase and penetration of mobile and Internet usage by the patient population in the region. It is is timley for this lecture and special workshop to discuss the clinical aspects, evidence sofar and the challenges relevant to the diabetes self management. This lecture and workshop will aim bring together leading clinians speakers and from academia, industry from the region to present and discuss these challenges, lessons learnt and relevant critical issues to increase awareness to this important health area.