Figure 1.

Potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The height and time scale of the 3 waves in this figure are uncertain and not to scale. Waves of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity should be distinguished from “waves” of pandemic COVID-19. We expect each additional “wave” of pandemic COVID-19 to create echoing waves of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, owing to primary, secondary, and tertiary effects, particularly to the extent that previously relaxed pandemic precautions and curtailments of normal socioeconomic and health care-related activities are reinstated.