Insights into the Management of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

A special issue of Diseases (ISSN 2079-9721). This special issue belongs to the section "Cardiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 3535

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Cardiology, Lipidology and Internal Medicine with Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Medical University of Bialystok, Żurawia 14, 15-540 Białystok, Poland
Interests: risk factors; sex-related differences; lipid disorders; familial hypercholesterolemia; residual risk

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Guest Editor
Department of Cardiology, Lipidology and Internal Medicine with Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Medical University of Bialystok, Żurawia 14, 15-540 Białystok, Poland
Interests: hypertension; atrial fibrillation; heart failure

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Despite significant developments in diagnostic tools and treatment, cardiovascular diseases remain the primary cause of death worldwide.

Ongoing research into novel risk factors and improved management is necessary to improve outcomes. The treatment of classical risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia is crucial, but it does not completely eliminate cardiovascular risk. Modern approaches to risk management should incorporate non-classical elements of the lipid profile, including cholesterol remnants, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, and lipoprotein (a). Furthermore, evidence suggesting the involvement of systemic inflammation is continuing to increase. Many studies are currently exploring elective treatment options for remaining risks, also known as residual risks. Additionally, a personalised approach, which accounts for differences in specific patients groups, such as sex-related differences, can be more effective.

This Special Issue aims to investigate the influence of novel risk factors on cardiovascular diseases, focusing on their clinical utility, impact on incidence, treatment choices, and potential interventions for prevention.

Dr. Paweł Muszyński
Prof. Dr. Anna Tomaszuk-Kazberuk
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • cardiovascular diseases
  • non-classical risk factors
  • residual risk
  • systemic inflammation

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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27 pages, 1422 KB  
Article
Stress, Anxiety, and Self-Efficacy in Hypertension: Evidence from a Romanian Case—Control Study
by Lucia Bubulac, Mirela Zivari, Irina Anca Eremia, Constantin Erena, Consuela-Mădălina Gheorghe, Iuliana-Raluca Gheorghe, Viorica Tudor, Claudia Florina Bogdan-Andreescu, Emin Cadar and Cristina-Crenguța Albu
Diseases 2025, 13(11), 373; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases13110373 - 13 Nov 2025
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Abstract
Background: Hypertension and psychological distress often coexist, though evidence from Eastern Europe is still limited. Stress, anxiety, and self-efficacy influence blood pressure control and treatment adherence. Their effect on hypertension prevention and treatment has not been systematically evaluated in Romania. Aim: This study [...] Read more.
Background: Hypertension and psychological distress often coexist, though evidence from Eastern Europe is still limited. Stress, anxiety, and self-efficacy influence blood pressure control and treatment adherence. Their effect on hypertension prevention and treatment has not been systematically evaluated in Romania. Aim: This study evaluated the associations between stress, anxiety, and self-efficacy in Romanian adults with and without hypertension to identify modifiable psychological factors relevant for integrated cardiovascular management. Methods: A retrospective case–control study was conducted among 215 adults, including individuals with hypertension and normotensive controls. Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing stress vulnerability, perceived stress, state and trait anxiety, self-efficacy, and Type A behavior, together with demographic and occupational data. Results: Hypertensive participants reported higher stress vulnerability, perceived stress, and anxiety, as well as lower self-efficacy, compared with controls. Type A behavior showed no association with hypertension. These differences remained consistent after accounting for demographic characteristics. Conclusions: Hypertension in Romanian adults is associated with a distinct psycho-emotional profile characterized by elevated stress and anxiety and reduced self-efficacy. Type A personality showed no association. The results emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing modifiable psychological determinants in hypertension care. Integrating psychosocial assessment with personalized interventions, including mindfulness-based approaches, digital health support, and nurse-led telemonitoring, could improve treatment adherence, reduce emotional burden, and contribute to overall cardiovascular health. This region-specific evidence supports expanding hypertension management to include psychological care alongside standard medical approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights into the Management of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors)
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13 pages, 696 KB  
Article
Blood Urea/Creatinine Ratio and Mortality in Ambulatory Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction
by Andrew S. Oswald, Muhammad S. Hussain, Mohsin H. K. Roshan, Filippo Pigazzani, Anna-Maria Choy, Faisel Khan, Ify R. Mordi and Chim C. Lang
Diseases 2025, 13(11), 362; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases13110362 - 7 Nov 2025
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Abstract
Background: Chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is associated with high mortality, and renal dysfunction is common in these patients. Blood urea/creatinine ratio (UCR) has been identified as a potential prognostic marker, reflecting both renal function and neurohormonal activity. We assessed [...] Read more.
Background: Chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is associated with high mortality, and renal dysfunction is common in these patients. Blood urea/creatinine ratio (UCR) has been identified as a potential prognostic marker, reflecting both renal function and neurohormonal activity. We assessed whether a UCR ≥ 95 at discharge from an outpatient service was associated with increased mortality. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed 337 patients (age 72.7 ± 14.3 years; 64.7% Male; Mean LVEF 33.2 ± 8.9%) with HFrEF referred to the Heart Failure Nurse Service at NHS Tayside for optimisation of heart failure medication. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between UCR and all-cause mortality. Results: Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis identified a UCR threshold of 95 (area under the curve [AUC] 0.701) as predictive of mortality. Results demonstrated that a UCR ≥ 95 was independently associated with increased mortality (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.09–3.14, p = 0.022). A high UCR was associated with increased mortality even in patients with preserved eGFR, a group typically considered at lower risk (HR 4.03, 95% CI 1.50–10.9, p = 0.006). Conclusions: These findings suggest that UCR could be a useful addition for identifying high-risk patients who may benefit from closer monitoring and more aggressive intervention following optimisation of heart failure medication. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights into the Management of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors)
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Review

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20 pages, 1161 KB  
Review
The Systemic Link Between Oral Health and Cardiovascular Disease: Contemporary Evidence, Mechanisms, and Risk Factor Implications
by Florinel Cosmin Bida, Florin Razvan Curca, Raoul-Vasile Lupusoru, Dragos Ioan Virvescu, Mihaela Scurtu, Gabriel Rotundu, Oana Maria Butnaru, Teona Tudorici, Ionut Luchian and Dana Gabriela Budala
Diseases 2025, 13(11), 354; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases13110354 - 31 Oct 2025
Viewed by 2001
Abstract
Background: Oral health plays a critical role in systemic wellbeing, with growing evidence supporting strong associations between oral conditions and cardiovascular disease (CVD). These connections extend beyond periodontal disease and involve oral microbiota imbalance, systemic inflammation, and oral side effects of cardiovascular pharmacotherapy. [...] Read more.
Background: Oral health plays a critical role in systemic wellbeing, with growing evidence supporting strong associations between oral conditions and cardiovascular disease (CVD). These connections extend beyond periodontal disease and involve oral microbiota imbalance, systemic inflammation, and oral side effects of cardiovascular pharmacotherapy. Objective: To explore these links, a narrative literature review was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect, covering studies published between 2000 and 2025. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect for studies published between January 2000 and May 2025. Both MeSH and free-text terms related to oral health, periodontal disease, systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis were used. Eligible studies included observational and interventional research, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Key findings: The evidence consistently supports an association between chronic periodontal inflammation and cardiovascular risk, mediated by systemic dissemination of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, CRP) and microbial products that promote endothelial activation and atherogenesis. Interventional data indicate that periodontal therapy may reduce systemic inflammatory burden and improve vascular parameters, though heterogeneity across studies limits causal inference. Conclusions: Current findings highlight a significant oral–systemic connection through inflammatory and endothelial mechanisms. Strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration between dental and cardiovascular care providers is essential to translate this evidence into preventive and therapeutic practice. Further longitudinal and mechanistic studies are required to confirm causality and guide clinical integration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights into the Management of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors)
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