Cardiology

The Department of Cardiology is part of the School of Clinical Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

Its research strengths lie in cardiovascular disease in African populations, with a strong focus on hypertension, heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Studies also address peripartum cardiomyopathy and HIV-related cardiac and renal comorbidities, with attention to treatment gaps, anticoagulation control and responses to beta-blockers and other therapies in resource-limited settings.

Further work includes infective endocarditis, supported by clinical registries, meta-analyses and molecular diagnostics, alongside emerging interests in metabolomics and risk stratification. The research is focused on South Africa and African patient populations, informing evidence-based practice and cardiovascular guideline development.