The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the management and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), with a notable decrease in the incident use of lipid-lowering medications by 16,744 patients per month during the first half of 2021 compared to 2019. Conversely, there was an increase in the use of medications for type 2 diabetes, suggesting a shift in treatment priorities during the pandemic (ref: Dale doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-02158-7/). In a long-term study, inclisiran demonstrated a sustained reduction in LDL cholesterol by 47.75% over 1440 days, with a low incidence of serious adverse events, indicating its efficacy and safety in high cardiovascular risk patients (ref: Ray doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00353-9/). Additionally, a validation study of cardiovascular disease risk prediction equations in cancer survivors showed reasonable calibration, with observed risks underpredicted by a maximum of 2.75% for males and 3.72% for females, highlighting the need for improved risk assessment tools in this population (ref: Tawfiq doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02405-9/). The relationship between mental disorders and physical diseases was also explored, emphasizing the bidirectional impact on clinical outcomes, which can complicate cardiovascular management (ref: Dragioti doi.org/10.1002/wps.21068/).

Recent advancements in genetic research have provided valuable insights into cardiovascular health, particularly through studies involving population isolates like the FinnGen cohort. This research has identified 333 independent loci associated with lifelong medication use patterns in cardiometabolic diseases, emphasizing the role of genetic determinants in treatment adherence (ref: Kiiskinen doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-02122-5/). Furthermore, a genome-wide association study on atrial fibrillation revealed East Asian-specific rare variants, enhancing our understanding of the genetic architecture of this common arrhythmia (ref: Miyazawa doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01284-9/). The integration of diverse ancestries in transcriptome-wide association studies has also shed light on tobacco use biology, which may inform drug repurposing strategies (ref: Chen doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01282-x/). Additionally, a meta-analysis identified 93 risk loci for venous thromboembolism, suggesting that individuals in the top 0.1% of polygenic risk scores have a VTE risk comparable to that of monogenic forms of the disease (ref: Ghouse doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01286-7/).

The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound effects on cardiovascular health, with studies indicating an increased incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease during and after acute infection. Research has shown that chronic inflammation from COVID-19 can disrupt lipoprotein metabolism, contributing to dyslipidemia (ref: Durrington doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00389-8/). A study investigating the effects of PCSK9 inhibition during severe COVID-19 found that patients with elevated IL-6 levels experienced lower mortality rates with treatment, suggesting potential therapeutic avenues for managing cardiovascular complications associated with the virus (ref: Navarese doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2022.10.030/). The pandemic's impact on mental health has also been highlighted, with evidence showing that mental disorders can adversely affect clinical outcomes in physical diseases, including cardiovascular conditions (ref: Dragioti doi.org/10.1002/wps.21068/).

Lifestyle interventions play a crucial role in cardiovascular disease prevention, with recent studies emphasizing the importance of precision nutrition tailored to individual metabolic phenotypes. A trial demonstrated that dietary modifications based on insulin resistance phenotypes led to significant cardiometabolic health improvements (ref: Trouwborst doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2022.12.002/). Additionally, a report on physical activity guidelines revealed persistent disparities in adherence among U.S. adults, particularly by rural-urban classification, indicating a need for targeted public health strategies (ref: Abildso doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7204a1/). The association between social isolation and increased risk of hospital-treated infections further underscores the importance of social factors in cardiovascular health (ref: Elovainio doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(22)00253-5/).

Innovative treatments for cardiovascular diseases are emerging, with inclisiran showing long-term efficacy in reducing LDL cholesterol levels in high-risk patients (ref: Ray doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00353-9/). Advances in neuromorphic hardware have the potential to enhance biological signaling regulation, which could lead to novel therapeutic approaches in cardiovascular care (ref: Harikesh doi.org/10.1038/s41563-022-01450-8/). Furthermore, a study on postoperative neonatal brain injury in congenital heart disease patients indicated a declining incidence over time, suggesting improvements in perioperative care (ref: Peyvandi doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2022.10.029/). The development of mRNA-encapsulating extracellular vesicles for collagen-replacement therapy represents another innovative approach, potentially enhancing tissue repair in cardiovascular applications (ref: You doi.org/10.1038/s41551-022-00989-w/).

Psychosocial factors significantly influence cardiovascular health, with studies indicating a bidirectional relationship between mental disorders and physical diseases. An umbrella review highlighted the impact of mental health on clinical outcomes, emphasizing the need for integrated care approaches (ref: Dragioti doi.org/10.1002/wps.21068/). Advances in psychiatric genetics have revealed that common genetic variants contribute to the heritability of psychiatric disorders, which can inform personalized risk assessments in cardiovascular care (ref: Andreassen doi.org/10.1002/wps.21034/). Additionally, research on social isolation and loneliness has shown a correlation with increased risk of hospital-treated infections, further linking psychosocial factors to cardiovascular outcomes (ref: Elovainio doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(22)00253-5/).

Accurate risk assessment is critical for managing cardiovascular disease, as demonstrated by a validation study of risk prediction equations in cancer survivors, which showed reasonable calibration in predicting 5-year cardiovascular disease risk (ref: Tawfiq doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02405-9/). The development of a risk stratification tool for patients with type 2 myocardial infarction demonstrated its effectiveness in predicting future myocardial infarction and mortality (ref: Taggart doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2022.10.025/). Furthermore, research on elevated LDL triglycerides confirmed their robust association with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, reinforcing the need for comprehensive lipid management strategies (ref: Balling doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2022.10.019/).

Comorbidities significantly affect cardiovascular outcomes, particularly in populations with mental disorders. An umbrella review highlighted the substantial impact of mental health on physical disease outcomes, emphasizing the need for integrated treatment approaches (ref: Dragioti doi.org/10.1002/wps.21068/). Research on childhood cancer survivors indicated that dexrazoxane provides long-term cardioprotection for those treated with doxorubicin, suggesting that managing comorbidities can improve cardiovascular health in this vulnerable population (ref: Chow doi.org/10.1200/JCO.22.02423/). Additionally, a scoping review on cardiovascular complications in individuals with Down syndrome revealed significant disparities in care, underscoring the importance of addressing comorbid conditions to enhance cardiovascular outcomes (ref: Dimopoulos doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.059706/).