The Symposium on Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Diseases was held at Aga Khan University (AKU) on September 25-26, 2000. AKU selected cardio-respiratory diseases as the theme for its annual research symposium this year to develop effective preventive strategies to combat the occurrence of heart disease in Pakistan, which is currently reaching epidemic proportions. World-renowned experts in the field of cardio-respiratory medicine participated in the Symposium, which was followed by a week-long workshop on Molecular Biology. Besides the speakers from AKU and other national universities, the following speakers came to Pakistan especially for the Symposium :
| Dr. Andrew Ignaszewski | University of British Columbia | Canada |
| Dr. Blair O'Neil | Dalhousie University | Canada |
| Dr. Ewa Ehrenborg | Karolinska Hospital | Sweden |
| Dr. Richard G. Hegele | University of British Columbia | Canada |
| Dr. John P. Rees | Guy's Hospital | U.K. |
Dr. Abdul Malik Kansi, Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Health, who was the chief guest at the Symposium said, "There is a tremendous challenge on our hands. Health care providers, both in Government and the private sector, will need to rise to the occasion, join hands and work together to meet this challenge." He also noted that, "We need to learn from the experiences of the West, but must customize and tailor these according to our environment. This requires the development of research to understand local disease patterns, and the efforts of Aga Khan University in this regard are commendable."
Dr. Kansi also praised AKU for allocating separate sessions during the Symposium, to research undertaken by medical students from several medical universities in Karachi - a first in Pakistan. The Symposium also provided an excellent opportunity for national and international scientists and researchers to share their work and experiences, and create linkages to promote research in the country.
Data presented during the first session, which focused on cardiovascular diseases, emphasised that modifications of behaviour through modest lifestyle changes are pivotal in decreasing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Focusing on prevention is also a more cost-effective option in Pakistan, where resources and access to medical facilities are limited. In his presentation, Dr. Andrew Ignaszewski, University of British Columbia, Canada, highlighted some of the risk factors associated with a marked increase in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. These include cigarette smoking, a high cholesterol and fat diet, hypertension and physical inactivity. Other lifestyle changes that significantly impact prevention include 30-60 minutes of exercise three to four times a week, weight loss and stress reduction.
The second day of the Symposium dealt with pulmonary diseases, such as asthma. Dr. John Rees, Guy's Hospital, London, noted that increased research into asthma has led to a number of new avenues of treatment. Other speakers emphasised the importance of early detection and proper treatment to control complications associated with asthma, as well as the role of smoking, family history and environmental pollution as significant risk factors in developing asthma.
In his address, Dr. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, President, AKU, noted that the University has always been conscious of its responsibilities to the community. He said, "Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor in developing and aggravating heart and lung diseases. AKU wishes to expand its role in building a smoke free society. Therefore, the whole of AKU will be smoke free by January 2001."
