Covid- 19 And Cardiovascular Disease In Africa: A Call For Cautious Haste

Abstract

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging the world in alarming proportions with its attendant health and economic consequences. As at December 15, 2020 there were over 73 million COVID -19 cases with over 1.6 million deaths globally.' Although mortality is said to be higher in those with co-morbidities such as cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease compared to the general population, a recent American College of Cardiology bulletin shows that those with underlying cardiovascular disease have the highest case fatality rate of 10.5%.> With a twin burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, the burden of cardiovascular disease in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) was 22.9 million disability adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2017 and is projected to double by 2030.