The cardiovascular continuum refined: A hypothesis

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Translational Research
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Recent advances necessitate an updated understanding of cardiovascular disease (CVD) processes.
• The concept of the cardiovascular continuum emphasizes the interconnectedness of CVD stages.
• Early intervention is crucial for preventing disease manifestation and progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an update on the cardiovascular continuum.
• To identify early intervention targets for CVD prevention and potential reversal.
• To discuss current and future therapeutic strategies and prediction tools.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent scientific literature and advances in cardiovascular research.
• Analysis of established and emerging markers of disease progression.
• Discussion of clinical manifestations and future therapeutic directions.

Main Results:

• Key markers of disease progression include urinary albumin excretion, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, natriuretic peptides, and estimated glomerular filtration rate.
• Manifestations like atrial fibrillation and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction are discussed.
• Cardiovascular progression prediction tools are evolving.

Conclusions:

• Early intervention based on understanding the cardiovascular continuum is vital.
• Proteomic biomarkers, clinical phenotypes, and genetic information may enhance individual cardiovascular risk prognosis.
• Future strategies will likely integrate multi-omics data for personalized risk assessment and management.