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
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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 -