Rheumatic diseases a major concern in the region

Rheumatic diseases are crippling our society and continue to have a serious impact on the quality of life of sufferers across the Middle East. We need to improve awareness and further reinforce the idea that living successfully with these disorders begins with education," said Dr Mohammed Hammoudeh, head of the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Rheumatology Department.

"The management of rheumatic conditions in the Middle East continues to be challenging," he added. Hammoudeh was part of a GCC delegation which travelled to Barcelona in Spain to attend the 8th annual European Union League Against Rheumatism (EULAR 2007) symposium. He was a part of a 45-strong delegation from the region.

RA is characterised by the presence of joint swelling associated with pain and stiffness. The conference reported that patients should be referred to and seen by a rheumatologist within six weeks after the onset of symptoms and that the main goal of RA treatment is to achieve remission.

"The management of different rheumatic diseases varies widely among countries, doctors and settings so international events such as the EULAR conferences are crucial in obtaining a set of recommendations and standardised operating procedures. Getting the opportunity to meet with international experts in the field allows for increased knowledge and access to the latest updates in the treatment and management of rheumatic diseases," said Hammoudeh

The four-day event included conferences with Continuing Medical Education (CME) accreditations which focused on the substantial burden of rheumatic diseases and the impact on the quality of life of sufferers. The seminars included science and clinical symposia, abstract sessions, presentation and discussion of difficult cases, workshops and special interest group sessions.
source:www.thepeninsulaqatar.com