Abstract
Recent improvements in health and an increased standard of living in Oman have led to a reduction in environment-related and infectious diseases. Now the country is experiencing an epidemiological transition characterised by a baby boom, youth bulge and increasing longevity. Common wisdom would therefore suggest that Omanis will suffer less ill health. However, a survey of literature suggests that chronic non-communicable diseases are unexpectedly becoming common. This is possibly fuelled by some socio-cultural patterns specific to Oman, as well as the shortcomings of the 'miracle' of health and rapid modernisation. Unfortunately, such new diseases do not spare younger people; a proportion of them will need the type of care usually reserved for the elderly. In addition, due to their pervasive and refractory nature, these chronic non-communicable diseases seem impervious to the prevailing 'cure-oriented' health care system. This situation therefore calls for a paradigm shift: a health care system that goes beyond a traditional cure-orientation to provide care services for the chronically sick of all ages.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 169-176 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - May 2012 |
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Keywords
- Burden of illness
- Chronic disease
- Demographic
- Disability
- Non-communicable diseases
- Oman
- Transition
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Emerging burden of frail young and elderly persons in Oman : For whom the bell tolls? / Al-Sinawi, Hamed; Al-Alawi, Mohammed; Al-Lawati, Rehab; Al-Harrasi, Ahmed; Al-Shafaee, Mohammed; Al-Adawi, Samir.
In: Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, Vol. 12, No. 2, 05.2012, p. 169-176.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Emerging burden of frail young and elderly persons in Oman
T2 - For whom the bell tolls?
AU - Al-Sinawi, Hamed
AU - Al-Alawi, Mohammed
AU - Al-Lawati, Rehab
AU - Al-Harrasi, Ahmed
AU - Al-Shafaee, Mohammed
AU - Al-Adawi, Samir
PY - 2012/5
Y1 - 2012/5
N2 - Recent improvements in health and an increased standard of living in Oman have led to a reduction in environment-related and infectious diseases. Now the country is experiencing an epidemiological transition characterised by a baby boom, youth bulge and increasing longevity. Common wisdom would therefore suggest that Omanis will suffer less ill health. However, a survey of literature suggests that chronic non-communicable diseases are unexpectedly becoming common. This is possibly fuelled by some socio-cultural patterns specific to Oman, as well as the shortcomings of the 'miracle' of health and rapid modernisation. Unfortunately, such new diseases do not spare younger people; a proportion of them will need the type of care usually reserved for the elderly. In addition, due to their pervasive and refractory nature, these chronic non-communicable diseases seem impervious to the prevailing 'cure-oriented' health care system. This situation therefore calls for a paradigm shift: a health care system that goes beyond a traditional cure-orientation to provide care services for the chronically sick of all ages.
AB - Recent improvements in health and an increased standard of living in Oman have led to a reduction in environment-related and infectious diseases. Now the country is experiencing an epidemiological transition characterised by a baby boom, youth bulge and increasing longevity. Common wisdom would therefore suggest that Omanis will suffer less ill health. However, a survey of literature suggests that chronic non-communicable diseases are unexpectedly becoming common. This is possibly fuelled by some socio-cultural patterns specific to Oman, as well as the shortcomings of the 'miracle' of health and rapid modernisation. Unfortunately, such new diseases do not spare younger people; a proportion of them will need the type of care usually reserved for the elderly. In addition, due to their pervasive and refractory nature, these chronic non-communicable diseases seem impervious to the prevailing 'cure-oriented' health care system. This situation therefore calls for a paradigm shift: a health care system that goes beyond a traditional cure-orientation to provide care services for the chronically sick of all ages.
KW - Burden of illness
KW - Chronic disease
KW - Demographic
KW - Disability
KW - Non-communicable diseases
KW - Oman
KW - Transition
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84859877697&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84859877697&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 22548135
AN - SCOPUS:84859877697
VL - 12
SP - 169
EP - 176
JO - Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal
JF - Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal
SN - 2075-051X
IS - 2
ER -