Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Bibliographic review

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death, accounting for almost half of all global mortality. The appearance of these diseases is closely related to risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis. The objective of the research was to describe the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. A bibliographic search was carried out in the electronic databases of biomedical scientific literature to investigate the eligible articles in the last 30 years. The evidence was included because it was relevant and currently in force on the effects of different risk factors on the epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases. Many genetic, biochemical, and vascular wall characteristics can be determinants of cardiovascular risk. Some of them are causally related to the atherosclerotic process. Although these risk determinants do not improve risk stratification, they can provide valuable insight into the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. It must be emphasized that even if the new risk determinants do not improve risk stratification, they provide valuable insight into the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. Elimination or modification of risk factors, together with specific pharmacological treatment, can improve survival, reduce the frequency of complications and the need for intervention, improving quality of life. Increasing knowledge of risk factors provides a basis for some to be used in everyday clinical practice in the near future.