Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geriatric Medicine in the Arab World

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Handbook of Healthcare in the Arab World

Abstract

The population of Middle Eastern countries is aging rapidly. These countries have certain cultural, social, and economic characteristics in common, with similar aspirations. Since aging is the main risk factor for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), the incidence and prevalence of these diseases are increasing among all the populations in the region. The improvement in health-care delivery has led to increasing the percentage of elderly in the population. These developments represent huge challenges to national- and community-based health services. There is a need to define the policies and programs that will reduce the burden of aging populations on the society and its economy. There is also a need to ensure the availability of health and social services for older persons and to promote their continuing participation in a socially and economically productive life. The morbidity burden of the geriatric population can quickly overwhelm fragile and underfinanced health infrastructure, which is unable to fully meet the prevention and treatment needs of a younger population with relatively low-cost, easy-to-prevent, and easy-to-treat illnesses. Currently, there is a move toward more geriatrics and gerontology programs in medical schools and at different universities in the region. In addition, a number of organizations including the Middle East Academy for Medicine of Ageing run short postgraduate courses and training in the aging field. As for services in general, they are still scattered and few countries in the region have a comprehensive program that covers the care of elderly across the spectrum of acute care to long-term care to home care.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 1,599.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,799.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • These days you should put the date on when these online resources were accessed

    Google Scholar 

  • Abolfotouh MA, Daffallah AA, Khan MY, Khattab MS, Abdul-moneim I (2001) Psychosocial assessment of geriatric subjects in Abha City, Saudi Arabia. East Mediterr Health J 7(3):481–491

    Google Scholar 

  • Abyad A, Zoorab R, Sidani S (1992) Family medicine in Lebanon: Ten years later. Family Medicine 24(8):525–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Abyad A (1994) The Lebanese Health Care system. Fam Pract 11(2):159–161

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Abyad A (1995a) Geriatrics in Lebanon the beginning. Int J Aging Hum Dev 41(4):299–309

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Abyad A (1995b) Geriatrics in the Middle-East the challenges. Practitioner-East Mediterranean Ed 6(12):869–870

    Google Scholar 

  • Abyad A (1996) Family medicine in the Middle-East: reflection on the experiences of several countries. J Am Board Fam Physicians 9(4):289–297

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Abyad A (2001) Health care services for the elderly a country profile Lebanon. J Am Geriatr Soc 49:1366–1370

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Abyad A (2004) Physicians, interdisciplinary teams, and communication in nursing homes. Long-Term Care Interface 5(5):28–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Abyad A (2008a) Age and aging in the Arab world. In: Nasir LS, Abdul-Haq AK (eds) Caring for Arab patients a bio psychosocial Approach. Radcliff Publishing, Oxford, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Abyad A (2008b) Health care services for the elderly in the Middle East. Middle East J Bus 2(2). http://www.mejb.com/upgrade_flash/Vol2_Issue2/2_2_Healthcare.htm

  • Abyad A (2010) Factors influencing the decision to enter a geriatric fellowship program. Educ Gerontol 26(1):97–105. https://doi.org/10.1080/036012700267420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abyad A (2012) Geriatrics & gerontology in the Middle East. Arab Health Magazine 1:62–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Abyad A (2015) Alzheimer’s in the Middle East. JSM Alzheimer’s Dis Relat Dement 2(1):1012

    Google Scholar 

  • Abyad A (2016) Geriatric nursing: the challenges in the Middle East. Middle East J Nurs 10(3):3–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abyad A (2017) Alzheimer’s in the Middle East – the future. Middle East J Psychiatry Alzheimer’s 8(1):15–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Abyad A, Ashour AM, Abou-Saleh MT (2001) Psychogeriatrics in the Arab world. In: Okasha A, Maj M (eds) Images in psychiatry: an Arab perspectives. World Psychiatric Association, US pp 175–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Ali N, Hussien A (2005) Depression in elderly patients attending primary health care clinics in Baghdad City. Arab J Psychiatry 16(2):107–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Anon (1985) World population prospects: estimates and projections as assessed in 1982. United Nations, New York, pp 4–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Azaiza F, Brodsky J (2003) The aging of Israel’s Arab population: needs, existing responses, and dilemmas in the development of services for a society in transition. Isr Med Assoc J 5(5):383–386

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Butler RN (2002) Report and commentary from the Madrid: the United Nations world assembly on ageing. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 57(12):M770-1. No abstract available. PMID:12456734

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell O et al (2003) National maternal mortality ratio in Egypt halved between 1992–3 and 2000. Bull World Health Organ 83(6):401–480; Demographic and Health Surveys, Egypt Interim Demographic and Health Survey, 2003. www.measuredhs.com. Accessed 7 Mar 2006. (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  • CDC (2012) Center for Disease Control and Prevention. National Vital Statistic System, Atlanta. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss.htm

    Google Scholar 

  • CSA (2010) Chronic disease and aging in Eastern Mediterranean region: from research to policy and practice. Center for Studies on Aging-Lebanon. http://csa.org.Lb

  • Duursma S, Abyad A, Amin F (2005) The Middle East Academy for medicine of ageing. J Nutr Health Aging 9(4):269–271

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat (2006) World population prospects: the 2006 revision. https://www.un.org/esa/population/unpop.htm. Last accessed 1 Aug 2012

  • El-Rufaie OEFA, Absood G (1993) Minor psychiatric morbidity in primary health care: prevalence, nature and severity. Int J Soc Psychiatry 39:159–166

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ghubash R, El-Rufaie O, Zoubeidi T, Al-Shboul QM, Sabri SM (2004) Profile of mental disorders among the elderly United Arab Emirates population: sociodemographic correlates. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 19:344–351

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haddad M (2000) Depression in primary care attendees in Bahrain. Arab J Psychiatry 11(1):48–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Khatib O (2004) Noncommunicable diseases: risk factors and regional strategies for prevention and care. East Mediterr Health J 10:778–788

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kinsella K (1988) Aging in the third world. Center for International Research, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinsella K, Velkoff VA (2001) An aging world: 2001. U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Lakkis NA, Adib SM, Osman MH, Musharafieh UM, Hamadeh GN (2010) Breast cancer in Lebanon: incidence and comparison to regional and Western countries. Cancer Epidemiol 34(3):221–225

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litwin H (2005) Correlates of successful aging: are they universal? Int J Aging Hum Dev 61(4):313–333

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litwin H (2006a) The path to well-being among elderly Arab Israelis. J Cross Cult Gerontol 21(1–2):25–40

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litwin H (2006b) Social networks and self-rated health: a cross-cultural examination among older Israelis. J Aging Health 18(3):335–358

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd-Sherlock P (2002) Social policy and population ageing: challenges for North and South. Int J Epidemiol 31(4):754–757

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marengoni A, Angleman S, Melis R et al (2011) Aging with multimorbidity: a systematic review of the literature. Ageing Res Rev 10(4):430–439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Margolis SA, Reed RL (2001) Institutionalizing older adults in a health district in the United Arab Emirates: health status and utilization rate. Gerontology 47(3):161–167

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pan Arab Project for Family Health (PAPFAM) (2008) League of Arab states: analysis of survey data. http://www.papfam.org/papfam/summery.htm

  • Reddy KS, Yusuf S (1998) Emerging epidemic of cardiovascular disease in developing countries. Circulation 97:596–601

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy KS et al (2005) Responding to the threat of chronic diseases in India. Lancet 366(9498):1746–1751

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabbah I, Drouby N, Sabbah S, Retel-Rude N, Mercier M (2003) Quality of life in rural and urban populations in Lebanon using SF-36 Health Survey. Health Qual Life Outcomes 1(1):30

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Shemesh AA, Kohn R, Blumstein T, Geraisy N, Novikov I, Levav I (2006) A community study on emotional distress among Arab and Jewish Israelis over the age of 60. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 21(1):64–76

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sweed H (2016) Population ageing – Egypt report. Middle East J Age Ageing. https://doi.org/10.5742/MEJAA.2016.92881

  • The World Bank Annual Report (2012) Main Report.©, vol 1. Washington, DC. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/11844. Last accessed 8 Mar 2013

  • The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency. http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-fact-book. Last accessed 26 Aug 2012

  • United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division UNDESA (2006) World population prospects: the 2004 revision and world urbanization prospects: the 2003 revision. Retrieved 27 Dec 2006, from http://www.esa.un.org/unpp

  • UNDPD (2002) United Nations Doeasa, Population division. World population ageing 1950–2050. http://www.unorg/esa/population/publications/worldageing19502050/

  • UNDPD (2015) United Nations Doeasa, Population division. World population prospects. http://www.esaunorg/unpd/wpp/DVD/

  • UNFPA and Help Age International (HAI) (2012) Overview of Accessed policies and legislation, data and research, and institutional arrangements relating to older persons- Progress since Madrid. Report compiled in preparation for The State of the World’s Older Persons, 2012

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Population Division (2005) World population prospects: the 2004 revision population database. [Online] Retrieved September, 2006 from http://esa.un.org/unpp/index.asp?panel=2

  • WHO (1996) World Health Statistics annual. World Health Organization, Geneva, pp 171–177

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2000) Towards an international consensus on policy for long-term care of the ageing. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2002) Innovative care for chronic conditions: building blocks for action. WHO, Geneva. www.who.int. Accessed 30 Jan 2006

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2003) Adherence to long-term therapies: evidence for action. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2004) Why are chronic conditions increasing? WHO, Geneva. www.who.int. Accessed 31 Jan 2006

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2006a) India, Tobacco Free Initiative: Core Programme Clusters (2005). www.whoindia.org. Accessed 26 Jan 2006

  • WHO (2006b) Essential medicines list. www.who.int. Accessed 2006

  • WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (2011) Plan of action for the prevention and control of non communicable diseases in the eastern Mediterranean region. World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2012) The World Bank Annual Report 2012: Volume 1. Main Report. World Bank Annual Report;. Washington, DC. © World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/11844 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.

  • World Health Organization (WHO) (2005) Preventing chronic disease: a vital investment. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Yach D, Hawkes C (2004) Toward a WHO long-term strategy for prevention and control of leading chronic diseases. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Yount KM, Sibai AM (2009) Demography of ageing in Arab countries. Int Handb Popul Ageing 1:277–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Youssef RM (2005) Comprehensive health assessment of senior citizens in Al-Karak governorate, Jordan. East Mediterr Health J 11(3):334–348

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yousufzai S (2007) The future of geriatric medicine: a pending healthcare crisis? Issues Berkeley Med J UC Berkley. Accessed at http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~issues/articles/15.1_Yousufzai_S_Geriatric_Medicine.html

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abyad Medical Center, Middle East Academy for Medicine of Aging, Middle East and North Africa Association on Aging and Alzheimer’s, Tripoli, Lebanon

    Abdulrazak Abyad

  2. Internal Medicine Department, Geriatric Unit, CHU F Bourguiba Monastir, Research Lab; Human Nutrition and Metabolic Disorder, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia

    Sonia Ouali Hammami

Authors
  1. Abdulrazak Abyad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sonia Ouali Hammami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abdulrazak Abyad .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Ismail Laher

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Community Medicine, Public Health and Family Medicine, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid, Jordan

    Yusuf S. Khader BDS, MSc, MSPH, MHPE, FFPH

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Abyad, A., Hammami, S.O. (2021). Geriatric Medicine in the Arab World. In: Laher, I. (eds) Handbook of Healthcare in the Arab World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36811-1_86

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation