Molecular Aspects of Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, with the majority of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Understanding the molecular aspects of CVDs and developing cost-effective programs and policies to control cardiovascular risk factors is crucial. This special issue focuses on various risk factors for CVDs, including modifiable factors like unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, as well as non-modifiable factors like genetic variations. The articles in this issue explore molecular targets, biomarkers, and signaling pathways related to cardiovascular risk factors. Topics covered include calcium channels, vascular inflammation and calcification, smoking and cannabis use, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling, epigenetic modifications, hypoglycemia, peripartum cardiomyopathy, chronic kidney disease, and kidney function monitoring. While not all risk factors are covered, this special issue aims to contribute to our understanding of cardiovascular risk factors and strategies for prevention. [Extracted from the article]