title: Emerging Burden of Frail Young and Elderly Persons in Oman: For whom the bell tolls?
abstract: Recent improvements in health and an increased standard of living in Oman have led to a reduction in environment-related and infectious diseases. Now the country is experiencing an epidemiological transition characterised by a baby boom, youth bulge and increasing longevity. Common wisdom would therefore suggest that Omanis will suffer less ill health. However, a survey of literature suggests that chronic non-communicable diseases are unexpectedly becoming common. This is possibly fuelled by some socio-cultural patterns specific to Oman, as well as the shortcomings of the 'miracle' of health and rapid modernisation. Unfortunately, such new diseases do not spare younger people; a proportion of them will need the type of care usually reserved for the elderly. In addition, due to their pervasive and refractory nature, these chronic non-communicable diseases seem impervious to the prevailing 'cure-oriented' health care system. This situation therefore calls for a paradigm shift: a health care system that goes beyond a traditional cure-orientation to provide care services for the chronically sick of all ages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman;
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al-Sinawi
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Alawi
authors.forename: Rehab
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al-Lawati
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Harrasi
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Shafaee
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Adawi