Cardiovascular Care in Africa – Cost Crisis and the Urgent Need for Contextual Health Service Solutions

Abstract

The 20th century marked a shift in the global disease burden profile with an epidemiological transition from infectious diseases to noncommunicable and degenerative diseases [1]. The rates of transition differed between regions and economic status, with economically backwards nations being saddled with a double burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) predominated [2]. Africa encounters such a similar double disease burden. The CVD burden is increasing in Africa, threatening to derail the fragile current health system. The recent global, regional and country-specific economic crises have reduced household incomes, thereby reducing the access to and affordability of guideline-directed care for hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, strokes, and the like.