Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Ischemic Heart Disease

Abstract

Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) remains one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, a large proportion of cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related deaths are linked to modifiable behavioural and metabolic risk factors such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, elevated blood pressure, raised blood glucose and dyslipidaemia. Many of these risk factors tend to cluster and interact, thereby compounding the burden of disease. For example, the concept of metabolic syndrome (central obesity + hypertension + hyperlipidaemia + insulin resistance) reflects how risk factors aggregate to elevate IHD risk. In the context of IHD, modifiable risk factors (such as hypertension, smoking, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, obesity, sedentary lifestyle) and non‐modifiable ones (age, sex, family history, ethnicity) have been well documented. However, emerging evidence points to the importance of non-traditional and emerging risk markers (e.g., psychosocial stress, air pollution, sleep disorders) which may further refine risk stratification and guide preventive strategies. Given the significant global burden of IHD and the fact that many risk factors are potentially modifiable, understanding and addressing these risk factors is critical for effective prevention. Recent studies (for example, from the journal Journal of the American Heart Association) have identified dietary factors, high systolic blood pressure and elevated LDL-cholesterol among the top contributors to IHD burden.