Cardiovascular medicine in primary healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa: Minimum standards for practice (part 3)

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause
of death worldwide. Approximately 80% of all
cardiovascular-related deaths occur in low- to middleincome
countries and at a younger age compared
with high-income countries. The economic burden
imposed by CVD on developing countries in terms of
loss of productive years of life and amount of fiscal resources spent on
secondary and tertiary care is considerably high.