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Bahrain’s multidisciplinary approach to treating pulmonary hypertension is gaining traction, with a dedicated clinic at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) reporting 110 patient visits between January and November last year, a forum heard.
SMC consultant adult cardiologist Dr Aysha Ahmed revealed that more people in the kingdom were undergoing treatment for the condition than ever before, attributing it to increased awareness among the population.
She was speaking at the first Bahrain Thoracic Conference, which kicked off yesterday at the Crowne Plaza Manama.
Officials including Supreme Council for Health (SCH) chairman Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and Government Hospitals chief executive officer Dr Mariam Al Jalahma attended. The event brought together speakers from Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the UK and Qatar.
Pulmonary hypertension occurs when elevated blood pressure builds up in the arteries connecting the heart and lungs, forcing the right side of the heart to work harder and potentially leading to heart failure.
Common symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, chest pain and swelling of the legs. The condition may result from underlying heart or lung disease, certain medications or, in some cases, have no identifiable cause. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are essential to controlling symptoms and improve long-term outcomes.
While comprehensive national data on the prevalence of the disease are not yet available – largely due to its widespread underdiagnosis globally – experts believe cases are on the rise.
To address this challenge, SMC established the Bahrain MDT Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic in 2023, adopting an innovative collaborative care model that brings together specialists from multiple disciplines rather than relying on a single specialty. The clinic comprises a dedicated team of three cardiologists, four pulmonologists and two rheumatologists, enabling comprehensive, patient‑centred management of the condition.
Dr Ahmed
Dr Ahmed stated that a vast majority of people seeking treatment at the Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic are female – a trend that has stayed consistent since its opening.
“In our first year, we had 31 visits from 20 patients from May to December 2023,” she said during the session ‘Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic: Bahrain Experience’.
“Around 80 per cent of visits were from female patients, and the remaining by men. The trend continued in the second year, with a total of 67 visits by 46 patients from January to December. Again, most (around 72pc) of them were women.
“As of November 2025, the number of visits shot up to a total of 110 by 62 patients. Women again constituted more than three-fourth (77pc) of the visits.
“The rising number of patients is partly due to the fact that in November 2024, we increased the number of consultations to twice a month rather than once, but it also means there is increased awareness about the disease, and more people are seeking treatment.”
Dr Ahmed emphasised the need to further expand services to accommodate a growing patient load, noting that the clinic is occasionally overbooked.
“We also need to raise awareness about the disease, improve screening to catch it early and enhance research collaboration,” she added.
“Work also needs to be done to understand the disease in patients with underlying conditions, such as sickle cell disease.”
Participants at the event
The two-day conference marks an important milestone for thoracic medicine in Bahrain and the region. It provides a unique platform for clinicians, researchers and healthcare professionals to come together, exchange knowledge and explore the latest advances.
Other sessions held yesterday included talks on New Insights in Asthma, Surgical Management of Pulmonary Infections and a Thoracic Emergency Imaging workshop.
The event concludes today with lectures on Pulmonary Fibrosis, Chronic Cough in Children and a Basic Mechanical Ventilation workshop.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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