COVID-19 AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN AFRICA: A CALL FOR CAUTIOUS HASTE
Author(s): Akpu B. B; Akpabio Akpabio; Utibe Effiong
Institute(s): 1 Department of Internal Medicine, UCTH, Calabar, Nigeria; 2 Rheumatologist and Internal Medicine physician, UUTH, Uyo, Nigeria; 3 MidMichigan Health and Central Michigan University, also The Aspen institute, USA.
Volume 3 / Issue 1
Abstract
Akpu B. B; Akpabio Akpabio; Utibe Effiong 1 Department of Internal Medicine, UCTH, Calabar, Nigeria; 2 Rheumatologist and Internal Medicine physician, UUTH, Uyo, Nigeria; 3 MidMichigan Health and Central Michigan University, also The Aspen institute, USA. 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%.2 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 2030.3
Number of Pages: 3
Number of Words: 947
First Page: 37
Last Page: 38