Doctors call for enhanced screening and early detection efforts as they foresee a spike in prostate cancer cases among the UAE’s ageing expat population in the next 30 years
Cases of prostate cancer, which is strongly tied to ageing, are expected to rise in the UAE in the coming years as demographics shift towards an older population, doctors told Arabian Business, calling for more screening this Movember.
These cases may well increase within the next 30 years as the UAE’s population demographics continue to shift. Currently, the UAE is home to over 9.5 million people with a median age of 33.5 years, though new visa initiatives are attracting residents across a wider age range.
Prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer, according to the American Cancer Scoiety, and it is typically more prevalent in older men aged 70 to 75. Around 95 percent of patients are over 50 years old. At diagnosis, the median age is around 65, which indicates a strong association between age and incidence, Dr. Fathima Nubla, family medicine specialist at Abu Dhabi’s LLH Medical Centre, told Arabian Business.
Projections suggest that the UAE population could reach over 10.6 million by 2030, adding to the country’s future prostate cancer burden as more long-term residents face higher risk levels that come with ageing.
Read More: Arabian Business