Cardiovascular Journal of Africa

iCARDIO Alliance Global Implementation Guidelines on Heart Failure 2025

Inconsistencies in healthcare access, varying infrastructure, resource constraints and diverse local practices as well as practical and political issues restrict the global applicability of currently available guidelines. The iCARDIO Alliance Global Implementation Guidelines on Heart Failure 2025 offers updated, practical recommendations for...

Welcome to the Cardiovascular Journal of Africa

The Cardiovascular Journal of Africa (CVJA) is an international peer-reviewed journal that keeps cardiologists up to date with advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Topics covered include coronary disease, electrophysiology, valve disease, imaging techniques, congenital heart disease (fetal, paediatric & adult), heart failure, surgery & basic science. CVJA is the official journal of the Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR) and has been published since 1990.

If you need to refer back to the old CVJA platform, visit this link: https://cvja.co.za/index.php

Important Notice to all Authors:

Manuscript Submission Fee & Article Processing Charge (updated March 2026)


It has become necessary for the Cardiovascular Journal of Africa to charge a manuscripts submission fees for all articles submitted for publication. On acceptance of a manuscript an additional Article Processing Fee will apply before publishing.


    From the Editor-in-Chief

    Professor Paul Brink

    At the Cardiovascular Journal of Africa (CVJA), the editorial team and I are excited to welcome you to our new redesigned website. This represents a significant step forward in our ongoing mission to serve as a trusted, accessible, and comprehensive resource for the cardiovascular community across Africa and beyond.

    Our updated digital platform has been thoughtfully developed to enhance your experience whether you are reading the latest research, submitting a manuscript, or browsing through archived issues. With improved navigation, faster access to content, and mobile-friendly features, we aim to make high-quality cardiovascular knowledge more accessible than ever before.

    As a peer-reviewed and indexed journal, CVJA, continues to publish a wide range of original articles, reviews, case reports, and editorials spanning all aspects of cardiovascular medicine. From clinical practice and public health to cardiovascular imaging, surgery, and basic science, we are proud to reflect the full spectrum of inquiry that drives progress in our field.


    We invite clinicians, researchers, and scholars from across the continent and the world to engage with our content, contribute their findings, and join us in advancing cardiovascular care) through science and collaboration.

    Thank you for your continued support of CVJA. We look forward to growing together and adapting. Time does not stand still. As Bob Dylan, still around and reinventing himself, sang in the 6’s – “The Times They Are A-Changin'”

    Latest News

    Global Heart Failure Guidelines 2025 – Now Published!

    The iCARDIO Alliance Global Implementation Guidelines on Heart Failure 2025 are now available, proudly co-published by Global Cardiology and the Cardiovascular Journal of Africa. Developed by a truly international panel of experts, these guidelines address the diverse challenges of heart failure care worldwide, particularly in regions with limited healthcare resources.

    This comprehensive guideline offers updated, practical recommendations for diagnosing and managing acute and chronic heart failure, including context-specific options for both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment. Importantly, it introduces resource-adjusted strategies, enabling clinicians to make effective decisions even in low- and middle-income settings. By combining the latest evidence with global collaboration, these guidelines aim to reduce hospitalisations, improve outcomes, and support clinicians everywhere in delivering better heart failure care.

    Read the full guidelines here »

    Most Read

    The temporal relationship between body composition and cardiometabolic profiles in an HIV-infected (on antiretroviral therapy) versus HIV-free Western Cape study population

    Cardiovascular risk is a health concern in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). This longitudinal study (baseline vs 36 months) aimed to investigate the relationship between body composition and markers of cardiovascular risk in a South African study population [HIV free, n = 22 vs HIV positive on antiretroviral therapy (HIV+ART), n = 73)]. Health questionnaires, anthropometric measurements...

    The role of C-reactive protein:albumin ratio and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio in predicting coronary artery disease

    Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), one of the most common causes of death worldwide, is a condition characterised by ischaemia and/or infarction due to reduced coronary blood flow. The most prevalent cause of ACS is coronary artery disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between blood parameters that we commonly use in the laboratory [C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin...

    Evaluation of cardiac function in paediatric Wilson’s disease patients with advanced echocardiographic modalities (strain and strain rate echocardiography)

    In Wilson’s disease (WD), copper accumulation in the organs and/or damage caused by oxygen free radicals occurs due to disturbances in copper excretion. In our study, we aimed to evaluate cardiac involvement with advanced echocardiographic modalities (tissue Doppler echocardiography, strain and strain-rate echocardiography).

    Latest articles

    Awake off-pump no-touch aorta coronary artery bypass grafting in a patient with interstitial lung disease during the COVID-19 pandemic

    Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) is favoured to reduce surgical trauma during myocardial revascularisation. Severe chronic respiratory conditions, such as interstitial lung disease, are known to significantly complicate perioperative management and long-term survival. For patients with a history of serious chronic respiratory or advanced respiratory disease, awake OPCABG under...

    Factors associated with cerebrovascular complications in a cohort of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in South Africa

    The prevalence of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) in individuals with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is about 6%–25%. This rate is higher than that of the general population and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Studies in Africa are sparse. Therefore, we aimed to describe the clinical manifestations, imaging features, and long-term prognoses of patients...

    Prognostic value of preoperative inflammatory and renal markers (SII, NLR, creatinine) on postoperative hospital stay and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a comprehensive analysis

    Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) induces a systemic inflammatory response, often leading to delayed recovery. This study investigated the predictive value of preoperative inflammatory markers (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], systemic immune-inflammation index [SII]) and serum creatinine on the length of hospital stay (LOS) following isolated CABG.