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Review
. 2020 Jul;131(1):86-92.
doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000004846.

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Effects on Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Choon-Looi Bong  1   2   3 , Christopher Brasher  4   5 , Edson Chikumba  6 , Robert McDougall  4   5 , Jannicke Mellin-Olsen  7   1   1 , Angela Enright  2   2
Affiliations
Review

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Effects on Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Choon-Looi Bong et al. Anesth Analg. 2020 Jul.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly around the world with devastating consequences on patients, health care workers, health systems, and economies. As it reaches low- and middle-income countries, its effects could be even more dire, because it will be difficult for them to respond aggressively to the pandemic. There is a great shortage of all health care providers, who will be at risk due to a lack of personal protection equipment. Social distancing will be almost impossible. The necessary resources to treat patients will be in short supply. The end result could be a catastrophic loss of life. A global effort will be required to support faltering economies and health care systems.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: See Disclosures at the end of the article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Low-cost solutions to create or extend the use of PPEs. Details, photos, and links can be found on https://aspa-2000.com/2020/03/27/low-cost-suggestions-to-creating-or-extending-ppe/. DIY indicates do it yourself; PPE, personal protective equipment.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Provided courtesy of Dr Haydn Perndt, AM, FFARCS, FANZCA, MPH &TM, Clinical Associate Professor, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Australia. E-mail: haydn.perndt@utas.ed.au. COVID-19 indicates Coronavirus Disease 2019; Spo2, peripheral oxygen saturation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • In Response.
    Bong CL, Brasher C, Chikumba E, McDougall R, Mellin-Olsen J, Enright A. Bong CL, et al. Anesth Analg. 2020 Sep;131(3):e174-e175. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000005061. Anesth Analg. 2020. PMID: 32541248 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • Medical Ethics Versus Health Care Workers' Rights: Fight-or-Flee Response.
    Subedi A. Subedi A. Anesth Analg. 2020 Sep;131(3):e173-e174. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000005060. Anesth Analg. 2020. PMID: 33035039 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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