UAE doctors warn work stress and bad diets are raising heart disease risk in under 50s

AI tool can help spot risk factors and deliver preventative care

Poor lifestyle habits are causing heart attacks and chronic conditions in younger people in the Middle East. Getty

Work stress and unhealthy lifestyles are triggering a rise in younger people with heart disease, with UAE doctors diagnosing cardiac problems up to 15 years earlier than elsewhere.

Patient data analysed by doctors working at five Medcare hospitals and 26 clinics across Dubai and Sharjah found that more UAE residents under 50 were experiencing coronary artery disease, while those from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia were having heart attacks up to 10 years earlier than western patients.

Almost half of those admitted to Medcare hospitals in 2024 with myocardial infarctions – the clinical name for a heart attack – were under 50, doctors said.

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Doctors working within the group revealed the trend to mark World Heart Day on September 29. They said a family history of premature heart disease, sedentary lifestyle, stressful work environment, junk food and overuse of sodas and sugary drinks were contributing to more young people with cardiac disease.

"It has been a disturbing trend to see a rising number of younger patients suffering from heart attacks,” said Dr Brajesh Mittal, head of cardiology at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa.

Dr Brajesh Mittal, head of cardiology at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa, Dubai. Photo: Medcare

“While no clear single factor can be attributed to this trend, it's a battery of multiple risk factors.

“Unlike older patients, plaque rupture and clot formations, but not necessarily severe long-standing blockages, are often the trigger.”

Hidden killer

The average age of heart attack victims in the UK is around 67, and at around 56 in the US. In the UAE, however, the average age of a heart attack victim is between 45 and 50.

Viral infections, such as winter flu viruses or Covid-19, have also been shown to increase the risk of heart attack.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and claims millions of lives each year.

Early diagnosis and timely medical intervention can increase survival rates for a condition that is preventable through conscious lifestyle choices.

According to the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, cardiovascular disease is responsible for 34 per cent of all deaths, while that number is even higher in Saudi Arabia, at around 45 per cent.

In 2024, out of 11,631 patients visiting Medcare’s cardiology outpatient departments, 9,817 were aged 45 years or younger.

While the UAE’s generally younger population may contribute to the unusual trend, doctors said younger patients tested showed an abnormally high number of serious conditions.

Cardiac conditions were suspected in 30 per cent of the younger patients checked, leading to detailed testing.

Of those, about 3 per cent were diagnosed with serious heart issues that needed further investigation.

“It is quite shocking that this number is close to that seen in older patients, where 46 per cent had detailed testing and about 5 per cent needed treatment,” said Dr Ghassan Nakad, a specialist in interventional cardiology at Medcare.

“Sadly, young people are catching up to older people when it comes to age-related diseases, with heart issues starting sooner.

“Global reports show that in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, the average age for a first heart attack has dropped by 5-10 years, with UAE residents, on average, seeing coronary artery disease 15 years earlier than people in other countries.”

Dr Jairam Aithal, a consultant of interventional cardiology and programme director at NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi, has treated more young people for heart problems since the pandemic.

“Post-Covid, we have had much younger people coming to us with either direct heart complaints or heart-related complaints, such as diabetes, blood pressure or high cholesterol,” he said.

“Easy access to high-fat processed food and lack of physical activity have a role, but also stress, which has significantly increased.

“There have been job losses that have led to stress. Meanwhile, those who maintained their jobs, their stress levels have gone up because there are fewer people doing the same amount of work.

“Online meetings have also created an always-on culture, which contributes to inadequate sleep.

“But technology has played a wider role. More younger people are using wearable devices to track their health, so they are alerted when there may be an issue that needs medical investigation.”

AI-powered blood test

A new blood test utilising artificial intelligence to spot unusual biomarkers can predict the development of coronary artery disease with 95 per cent accuracy, doctors said.

The Cardio Explorer tool is helping doctors detect heart diseases earlier, and is proving less invasive and as effective as a usual MRI scan of the heart muscle, or CT angiograph, an X-ray that takes 3D images of blood vessels and tissue to spot abnormalities.

The test evaluates 32 variables, including blood test values, blood pressure, and medical history, to compile a risk score and categorise the patient's cardiac risk.

Medcare recently used the measure on a 35-year-old Emirati male, who visited hospital after experiencing chest pains.

While doctors found no signs of acute coronary syndrome, heart attack or serious heart blood-flow problem, the test showed other factors categorised him as high risk.

Despite being a non-smoker, the patient was obese, with low levels of good cholesterol, as well as a family history of heart disease and diabetes.

Based on his test results, doctors prescribed an exercise and diet plan to reduce his weight and cut the risk of future heart conditions.

Dr Yogeswari Vellore Satyanarayanan, a specialist cardiologist in Al Qusais, said AI tools can open up early diagnostics to improve the prevention of potentially fatal heart attacks.

“AI’s ability to combine complex biological data promises to redefine how we classify heart diseases, discover new biomarkers, and design safer therapies,” he said.

“By offering a proactive, non-invasive way to detect significant coronary artery disease early, this is empowering patients to take charge of their heart health before it's too late.”