UAE: More women survive cancer; heart disease on the rise, says new report
According to a recent insurance report, insurance claims associated with heart disease have increased by 50% for women in the region over the past five years. The report also noted that although breast cancer is still a major concern, the survival prognosis has increasingly improved owing to early detection and advanced treatment options.
The 13th annual edition of Zurich Life Insurance’s customer claims paid report underscores the changing trends in health issues owing to modernization, where smoking and lack of physical exercise were marked as the leading risk factors.
Shilpa Chitanand, Head of Retail Distribution at the company, shares findings regarding smoking trends, “We looked into this and found out that smoking as an event has escalated among women.” “A study not long ago from the University College of London noted that there is a much higher chance of heart-related issues among women smokers compared to male smokers. And concerning lifestyle modifications, we practically do not move at all in the busy hustle and bustle of life today. ”
“More women are showing up with heart attack signs in recent years.” Dr. Padmavathi Aluwala, Specialist Cardiologist at Aster Hospital Sharjah, confirmed the worrying trend. “This aligns with big picture trends being documented across the globe,” she remarked. “More women coming forward to report symptoms has undoubtedly contributed to greater awareness, but there is also an authentic rise in the underlying risk factors.”
Chronic stress, a condition that many women experience due to work-life imbalance, has become increasingly common, contributing to greater impact, she noted.
“Menopause also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, and this risk is usually ignored.” She argued that women have the tendency to “prioritize their families and careers over their own health” and encouraged them to “take proactive steps” in managing their health.
More cancer survivors
The report also mentioned that ZLI has paid $241 million in claims in life and death benefits over the last three years, which is a big jump from the company’s $210 million last year. The report also mentions that living and death benefits around this time totaled 241 million.
Even though cancer accounted for 51 percent of all critical illness claims paid, this year’s report focuses on the silver lining. “For years cancer has been our number one reason to pay out claims for women and breast cancer has unconditionally topped that list,” Shilpa stated. “But we have observed over time that more women are surviving these illnesses. There is a shift. We’re seeing more claims being paid out and less death claims, and that’s a positive sign.”
She attributed the change to early screenings and increased awareness regarding health along with improvements in treatment.
Distracted Driving
Added sales report: A concerning rise in accident death claims was flagged. Road deaths account for 6 percent of all claims, the highest figure Shilpa said was recorded by the insurer. He further explained that cases of road deaths were, “largely because of distracted driving.”
That follows Shilpa's claims of distracted driving deaths being the leading cause of road deaths. Earlier this year, the MoI published a report showing that accidents have been on the rise across the UAE. Road deaths are also a part of the growing concern. Shilpa disclosed a staggering 384 deaths were recorded in 2024 marking a percentage increase of 9 for the year 2023.
When you calculate Shilpa's numbers, the figure comes to around AED 700,000. Which begs the question how far is that going to take a person over a long period of time and additionally how are three out five women suffering substantial financial self neglect. The report also shows signs suggesting less than 200,000$ becomes the new low. Domestically employed women are empowered willing to contribute to family expenses but need some redirection to prioritise over themselves at some point.
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