Cardiac disease, which is a major cause of death at the global and local level, leads to death of one out of four people in the UAE each year. Dubai Health Authority statistics indicate that the mortality rate of cardiac disease in the UAE is 22 per cent, which is becoming a major concern and challenge to the UAE's health institutions. These statistics came up during the second annual conference of the Emirates Cardiac Society, which was inaugurated by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Chairman of Dubai Health Authority, which concluded on Sunday. Qadhi Saeed Al Moroshad, director-general of the DHA, said, “World Health Organisation (WHO) reports confirm that cardiovascular diseases cause the death of more than 17 million people worldwide every year, which is expected to increase to be more than 23 million by 2030." Dr Fahd Basalib, consultant and head of cardiology at Rashid Hospital, said: “Heart and blood vessel diseases are the main factors of death in the world. In the UAE, one in four deaths is caused by these diseases." He also anticipates increase in this figure as a result of the spread of risk factors in society, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, disruption of lipid protein and unhealthy lifestyles. He pointed out that these diseases are no longer limited to the elderly, but now occur to people at an early age. He said people can avoid 80 per cent of these deaths by following a healthy lifestyle and periodic disclosure of risk factors associated with heart disease like diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol. Six hundered doctors and specialists participated in the conference, which lasted three days, discussed several topics including coronary artery disease, heart valves, heart failure, ultrasound of the heart, ECG and therapies for heart disorders and rehabilitation therapy for heart patients.