Preventing the Next Pandemic: The Case for Investing in Circulatory Health

05 Oct 2021

Preventing the next pandemic

The case for investing in circulatory health

Tuesday, 12 October at 14:00 CEST

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The relationship between NCDs and COVID-19 is multifaceted and complex, but as Richard Horton powerfully stated in his editorial in The Lancet, it has become clear that “In the case of COVID-19, attacking NCDs will be a prerequisite for successful containment”. This is particularly true for circulatory health conditions; meta-analysis indicates that hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and thrombotic complications have been observed as both the most prevalent and most dangerous co-morbidities in COVID-19 patients.

The world simply cannot wait for the next pandemic to invest in NCDs. The Global Coalition for Circulatory Health (GCCH), formed in 2017, is the only network of international, regional and national organizations advocating for increased prevention, control and treatment of all circulatory diseases. Together the members of the Global Coalition have produced a Position Paper providing a clear rationale and actionable proposals for Member States to include measures to address circulatory health in emergency preparedness plans.

The Position Paper will be launched on 12 October 2021 with a high-level webinar. Following welcoming remarks from WHF President Fausto Pinto and WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, two panel discussions will focus on both the distinct interrelationship between COVID-19 and circulatory health and the specific transformations and investments that can help prevent future syndemic crisis points. The WSO Immediate Past President Michael Brainin and President Elect Sheila Martins will participate in the panel discussions.