Abstract
The current pandemic of SARS-COV 2 infection (Covid-19) is challenging health systems and communities worldwide. At the individual level, the main biological system involved in Covid-19 is the respiratory system. Respiratory complications range from mild flu-like illness symptoms to a fatal respiratory distress syndrome or a severe and fulminant pneumonia. Critically, the presence of a pre-existing cardiovascular disease or its risk factors, such as hypertension or type II diabetes mellitus, increases the chance of having severe complications (including death) if infected by the virus. In addition, the infection can worsen an existing cardiovascular disease or precipitate new ones.This paper presents a contemporary review of cardiovascular complications of Covid-19. It also specifically examines the impact of the disease on those already vulnerable and on the poorly resourced health systems of Africa as well as the potential broader consequences on the socio-economic health of this region.
Highlights
The first reported case of the infection caused by the Novel Coronavirus, initially called nCoV 2019, occurred on December 8, 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China
It was noted that co-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) with or without myocardial injury was associated with higher mortality [45] (Table 1)
Some of the theories postulated on the effects of Covid-19 infection and cardiovascular disease include cardiovascular instability occasioned by the imbalance between the infection induced increase in metabolic demand and reduced cardiac reserve [23]
Summary
The first reported case of the infection caused by the Novel Coronavirus, initially called nCoV 2019, occurred on December 8, 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Ogah et al: SARS-CoV 2 Infection (Covid-19) and Cardiovascular Disease in Africa. In a recent modelling study, Clark et al [4] reported that about a fifth of persons worldwide may be at increased risk of severe Covid-19 infection. These are individuals who may be infected because they have pre-existing co-morbidities. Studies have shown that markers of inflammation such as IL-6, CRP, IFN-γ and TNF-α are increased in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 This is said to contribute to the inflammatory response and cytokine storm [32, 33]. Severe pneumonia and ARDS seen in patients leads to hypoxia, further end organ damage and death [34]
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