Potential Link Between Infectious Disease-induced Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Translation

Abstract

Infectious diseases pose a significant health threat worldwide, while cardiovascular diseases remain among the leading causes of human mortality. Recent clinical and basic research has demonstrated that infectious diseases can induce or exacerbate cardiovascular complications, primarily through excessive or dysregulated inflammatory responses triggered by pathogen stimuli. Elevated levels of inflammatory factors not only directly damage cardiomyocytes and vascular endothelium but also accelerate the progression of cardiovascular pathology through various pathways, including immune imbalance and metabolic abnormalities.This review systematically describes the concept and molecular mechanisms of inflammation induced by infectious diseases. It discusses clinical translational strategies, ranging from biomarker detection to anti-inflammatory therapy and vaccine intervention, in the context of the clinical manifestations of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications caused by typical pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria. The review concludes with an outlook on current research challenges and future development directions. A deeper understanding of the inflammatory nexus between infectious diseases and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is crucial for developing more effective preventive and therapeutic programs, ultimately reducing the disease burden.