The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and chronic diseases

Background: Chronic diseases contribute to 74% of annual global deaths. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic further aggravated the burden of chronic diseases. The reasons for this adverse impact must be elucidated to develop an appropriate response.Current Concepts: COVID-19 increases the burden of chronic disease in three ways. First, chronic disease comorbidities are associated with a higher severity and fatality rate in patients with COVID-19. Second, the post COVID-19 condition results in chronic health problems. Lastly, a disruption in the system for chronic disease screening and care was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.Discussion and Conclusion: Strong efforts are needed to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on chronic diseases, and to re-establish an effective system for chronic disease management.Y