African Studies - COVID-19 Focus

WHF Global Study on CVD and COVID-19

To better understand the intersection between cardiovascular disease and COVID-19, the World Heart Federation (WHF) has launched a global prospective cohort study which aims to better describe cardiovascular outcomes and identify cardiovascular risk factors associated with poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19. The main purpose for this study would be to focus on low-income countries.

The study is supported by the WHF Science Committee and led by Professor Karen Sliwa, WHF President, Professor Dorairaj Prabhakaran, WHF Science Committee Chair and Professor Pablo Perel, WHF Senior Science Advisor.

WHF is working with our Member Public Health Foundation India (PHFI), with PHFI taking the role of study collaborating centre.

All WHF members have been invited to identify and endorse hospitals or other medical facilities that are treating COVID-19 patients. To date, WHF has received interest from members and networks in 37 countries wishing to participate in the study. 

Sudan, Bosnia and Herzegovina were the first countries to start recruiting patients for the study. Furthermore, sites in Iran, Argentina have also started. Sites in Nigeria, Portugal, India, Zambia are currently preparing to commence the study in the coming weeks.

The WHF Global Study on CVD and COVID-19 is a simple registry with data entry, which would take about 10-15 minutes.

If you would like to learn more about the study, the support and remuneration, please correspond directly to: Lana Raspail, lana.raspail@worldheart.org