KARACHI, March 9: There is a need to reconsider the preventive and treatment aspects of rheumatic diseases which is now one of the major health concerns in the developing countries, including Pakistan.

These views were expressed by health professionals at a moot titled ‘11th annual conference of Pakistan Society for Rheumatology’.

The conference was launched four day back with the objectives to highlight rheumatology as an important sub-specialty both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels of education and to increase the awareness among the masses about the disorders which continued to plague the humanity, said Dr M Shakil Baig, chairman of the conference organising committee.

On the occasion, experts expressed the view that rheumatic disorders were bane for any conscious nation and as such there was a need to promote cost-effective treatment and novel solutions to reduce the burden of the diseases affecting largely bones, joints, spines and limbs.

The moot recommended that prevention of bone and joint diseases was cheap, effective, and extremely essential in a developing country like Pakistan. Strategies focused on the prevention of Osteoarthritis by weight reduction and lifestyle modification are needed, while an early recognition and prompt treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with disease suppressing drugs is emphasised. It was underscored that prevention of rheumatic fever was possible by promoting hygienic life style.

“Osteoporosis (thinning of bones) especially in women can be prevented by adequate intake of milk and dairy products equivalent to at least three glasses of milk every day. This should be supplemented by a diet rich in Vitamin D as in edible oils margarine and butter etc. Sufficient exposure of skin to sunlight at least for twenty minutes a day is recommended especially for young girls”, said the recommendations.

It was also urged that new treatments for rare diseases like connective tissue disorders should be identified. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan (CPSP) should also consider and introduce conduct of postgraduate examination (FCPS) in rheumatology on priority basis. The conference emphasised on training and production of more rheumatologists, while on the other hand every teaching hospital should have a full-fledged department of rheumatology.

About 15 delegates from the UK, USA, Middle East and India, 20 national experts, including rheumatologist physicians, orthopaedic surgeons and pain specialists made scientific presentations during the conference, which was organised in collaboration with the Baqai Medical University.

BMU chancellor, Prof FU Baqai, said that rheumatologic ailments had become the major health concern of the world and it was high time for health planners of the country to sit and seriously think on how to handle this vital health issue.

BMU vice-chancellor Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Azhar Ahmed said that as per a WHO survey, the greatest incidence of sufferings from the musculoskeletal diseases was expected to be most marked in the developing countries, including Pakistan, which was alarming.

The president of the Pakistan Society for Rheumatology (PSR), Dr Abid Farooqui, called for further sharing of experiences and more interaction between the experts to strengthen the services available to rheumatic patients within the country.

Prof Sara Walker, University of Missouri USA, said that osteoarthritis, which was the most common form of arthritis, could be prevented by adequate intake of vitamins C and D, avoidance of both major joint trauma and severe repetitive joint use, and control of obesity and osteoporosis.

Dr Terrance Gibson from UK ,David D’ Cruz (UK), Prof Asim Khan, USA, Dr Housam Aldeen Sarakbi from Qatar, Mehernoosh Sheriar Irani, UK, Dr Sirinder Jit Gupta from India, Prof Rohini Handa, Prof Paul Bacon, Prof Faqir Mohammad Khan, Dr Zaki Hassan also spoke. A public awareness programme on bone and joint diseases was also arranged.