EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES: TRENDS AND DETERMINANTS

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are a major problem for health systems due to their significant economic costs and social consequences. Based on current data, their prevalence is projected to increase between 2025 and 2050.

The aim of this article is to analyze existing data on non-modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

Material and methods. A comprehensive search of publications in Russian and English in the academic databases eLibrary.ru, PubMed, Google Scholar, and CyberLeninka by keywords for the period from 2015 to 2025.

Results. The updated information on non-modifiable risk factors, including age, gender, and genetic predisposition, are interrelated determinants of cardiovascular diseases. These factors interact, modulating individual risk profiles. Morbidity is directly correlated with age, which is explained by morphological and physiological changes, as well as age-related hormonal shifts. Key elements of these changes include deterioration of the lipid profile and the development of comorbid conditions. Cardiovascular diseases demonstrate marked gender dispersion in epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and response to therapy. Genetic predisposition is estimated at 24-40% of the total risk variability, with the effect varying in different ethnic and age groups. As for the role of mitochondrial genes its study is a promising area.

Conclusion. Age, sex, and genetic predisposition are key unmodifiable determinants of cardiovascular risk. However, existing studies face methodological limitations, such as insufficient size and diversity of population samples, the predominance of cross-sectional designs, and heterogeneity in the assessment of genetic markers, which complicates the establishment of causal relationships and the generalization of results. To overcome these gaps and develop personalized predictive models, large-scale longitudinal studies using multi-omics and integrative approaches that take into account the dynamics of interactions between non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors across the lifespan are needed.

Source of funding. The work was carried out at OSU named after I.S. Turgenev within the framework of the state assignment No. 075-00195-25-00 dated December 25, 2024 for 2025 and for the planning period of 2026 and 2027, project FSGN-2024-0014 (1024041900023-6-3.1.3; 3.2.12; 3.2.4).