UAE Health & Wellness Index Surges To Sixth Rank On Global Scale: Cigna Well-Being Survey

Global health service company Cigna Corporation today released the results of its annual 2019 Cigna 360 Well-Being Survey - Well and Beyond that indicates an improvement in the overall health and well-being index of the UAE population by 1.4 points over 2018

DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 22nd Apr, 2019) Global health service company Cigna Corporation today released the results of its annual 2019 Cigna 360 Well-Being Survey - Well and Beyond that indicates an improvement in the overall health and well-being index of the UAE population by 1.4 points over 2018.

Ranking above the global average in sixth place with an overall score of 62.9 points, the country shows a strong outlook across five key indices – physical, family, social, financial and work.

Heart health has emerged as a key area of concern, identifying a gap in the perception of high blood pressure (HBP) – a pressing concern given its soaring prevalence in the region. The survey reveals that 32 percent of the residents believe that HBP is not curable with lifestyle change.

Reinforcing 2018’s findings, the survey points to high levels of stress among the UAE population. Despite an improvement in the overall score when it comes to fighting stress, close to 22 percent of residents still face unmanageable levels of stress.

The latest edition of the annual Cigna 360 Well-Being Survey was released at a launch event that drew the participation of Dr Saleh Al Hashimi, Advisor to the Dubai Health Insurance Corporation,DHIC, of the Dubai Health Authority,DHA, Dr Mohamed Farghaly, consultant at DHIC and Head of Insurance Policies and Health Economics at DHA, and Gail Stanley, Head of Organisational Effectiveness at Noor Bank PJSC. Also present were Cigna representatives and leading medical experts from the region.

A panel discussion during the event examined the results of the survey that delves deep into people’s perceptions of health and well-being. Given its scope and scale, the 2019 edition is considered Cigna’s most comprehensive survey to date.

According to the survey, UAE residents are moderately aware of heart health indicators, such as Body Mass Index,BMI, and blood pressure, on a par with the global average.

Conversely, their awareness of symptoms that may suggest potential heart problems is lower than the world average. More millennials than older age groups have admitted to experiencing these symptoms, despite the latter demonstrating higher awareness in this regard.

"In the UAE, 30 percent of respondents are battling HBP, a possible precursor to heart disease, yet close to half of them do not perceive this as fatal. Many are unaware that sometimes there are no symptoms ahead of a cardiac arrest. While some people know that a few key lifestyle changes can have a positive impact on blood pressure numbers and consequently improve heart health, many prefer not to take action, whether through ignoring the symptoms or not initiating any changes," said Dr Mohamed Farghaly.

"Surprisingly, one in three respondents does not believe that HBP is curable with lifestyle change. Only 28 percent of respondents use wearable technology to track heart health. Heart health education is more important than ever, which is why Cigna has been driving the cause through its initiative ‘Heart Your Heart’ in the UAE," said Jerome Droesch, CEO of Cigna MENA.

At work, 43 percent of the surveyed claim their companies have a formal workplace wellness program in place, with a high participation rate of 69 percent. However, more than half of them think that workplace wellness programs are committed only to physical wellness and fail to give mental well-being the attention it deserves.

Interestingly, the findings of the 2019 Cigna 360 Well-Being Survey – Well and Beyond also reveal that women can rely on fewer workplace wellness programs to support their well-being than men. Only 35 percent of female respondents have a formal wellness program at work, as opposed to 46 percent of working men.