Inflammation Beats Cholesterol: A Comment on the Unequivocal Driver of Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Abstract

Despite advancements in the current standard of care, cardiovascular diseases continue to hold the top spot as the leading cause of mortality worldwide. The development of atherosclerosis is the most common culprit behind ailments such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Consequently, it imposes a significant burden on life expectancy, quality of life, morbidity, and societal costs. Both increased cholesterol levels and the activation of the inflammatory cascade are known as cardiovascular risk facts. Their relative weight is in the spotlight of curent biomedical research. Newly published data shed light on the role of inflammation in determining cardiovascular risk irrespective of cholesterol levels and cholesterol-lowering therapies.

A Non-Coronary, Peripheral Arterial Atherosclerotic Disease (Carotid, Renal, Lower Limb) in Elderly Patients—A Review: Part I—Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Atherosclerosis-Related Diversities in Elderly Patients

“…Early atherosclerotic lesions begin with lipid infiltrates and are highly dynamic lesions containing inflammatory cells (monocytes, leukocytes, and macrophages); inflammatory cytokines (interleukins such as IL-1β and IL-6; tumor necrosis and growth factors such as TNF-α and TGF-β1; and metalloproteinases such as MMP-2 and MMP-9); oxidation products (e.g., oxy-LDL cholesterol); and in diabetic patients, glycation products [ 34 , 37 ]. Atherosclerosis is not solely initiated by atherogenic lipoproteins such as Lp(a), LDL, IDL, or VRDL, but also by genetic factors, such as short non-coding nucleotide sequences of microRNAs [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. These microRNAs play a role in the regulation of all metabolic pathways through the selective blocking of mRNA, which then affects the production of proteins and enzymes [ 42 ].…”

Flexible electronics for cardiovascular healthcare monitoring

“…According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 17.9 million deaths caused by CVDs occur each year, approximately 31% of all global deaths. 1 , 2 , 3 Low- and middle-income countries often face a worse situation. The risk of CVDs increases with age, and they are more commonly observed in individuals over 40 years old.…”