Shehab Abdullah, Al Dhanhani Huda, Alhammadi Omar, Hassan Mohamed Badi, Farghaly Mohamed, Hassoun Ahmed, Mahboub Bassam, Tahlak Mona, Abutayeh Reem Faisal, Haridy Hammam, Hassanien Ashraf, Joury Jean, Al-Shamsi Humaid O
Department of Interventional Cardiology, Burjeel Royal and Mediclinic Hospitals, Al Ain, UAE.
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Pulm Ther. 2025 Jul 19. doi: 10.1007/s41030-025-00304-3.
Respiratory infections are a major cause of mortality among young children and adults, particularly the elderly or those with underlying medical conditions. Many respiratory infections, including influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcal disease, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), have available vaccines and antiviral agents. However, vaccine coverage rates remain low. Experts representing a broad spectrum of medical specialties from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made evidence-based recommendations on treating patients considered high risk for respiratory infections, highlighting gaps in current practices and suggesting strategies for improved communication between healthcare professionals and patients. To effectively manage respiratory infections, the experts emphasized the importance of adhering to guidelines, considering all vaccines and antiviral treatments, and strictly following vaccination schedules. Early testing upon recognition of symptoms was also encouraged. Improving vaccine uptake was considered crucial and could be achieved by educating patients about disease prevention through vaccines and the role of antiviral treatments for COVID-19. Addressing knowledge gaps and combating vaccine hesitancy among both patients and healthcare professionals were also essential steps. Recommendations for future initiatives include healthcare professionals educating the public on precautionary measures to reduce the spread of respiratory infections. Additionally, the experts agreed that clinical management guidelines for chronic diseases should be updated to include preventative strategies such as vaccines, prophylaxis, and counselling. Monitoring the performance of healthcare facilities using key performance indicators is also recommended to ensure effective management and continuous improvement of vaccination programs. Patient populations in the UAE who are considered at high risk of serious disease from respiratory infections have diverse medical needs and may access healthcare across a wide range of settings and specialisms. Therefore, it is vital that all healthcare professionals across specialisms who may engage with these individuals are able to provide appropriate advice on managing the risk through vaccination, prompt testing, and treatments as needed.
呼吸道感染是幼儿和成人死亡的主要原因，尤其是老年人或有基础疾病的人。许多呼吸道感染，包括流感、新冠病毒病、肺炎球菌疾病和呼吸道合胞病毒（RSV），都有可用的疫苗和抗病毒药物。然而，疫苗接种率仍然很低。来自阿拉伯联合酋长国（阿联酋）的代表广泛医学专业的专家就治疗被认为有呼吸道感染高风险的患者提出了基于证据的建议，强调了当前做法中的差距，并提出了改善医护人员与患者之间沟通的策略。为了有效管理呼吸道感染，专家们强调了遵守指南、考虑所有疫苗和抗病毒治疗以及严格遵循疫苗接种时间表的重要性。还鼓励在出现症状时尽早进行检测。提高疫苗接种率被认为至关重要，可以通过向患者宣传通过疫苗预防疾病以及抗病毒治疗对新冠病毒病的作用来实现。解决患者和医护人员双方的知识差距以及应对疫苗犹豫情绪也是必不可少的步骤。对未来举措的建议包括医护人员向公众宣传预防措施以减少呼吸道感染的传播。此外，专家们一致认为，慢性病的临床管理指南应更新，以纳入疫苗接种、预防和咨询等预防策略。还建议使用关键绩效指标监测医疗机构的表现，以确保疫苗接种计划的有效管理和持续改进。阿联酋被认为有因呼吸道感染而患重病高风险的患者群体有多样化的医疗需求，可能会在广泛的医疗机构和专科接受治疗。因此，所有可能接触这些人群的各专业医护人员能够就通过接种疫苗、及时检测和必要治疗来管理风险提供适当建议至关重要。
