“Nothing burns like the cold”: Cardiovascular disease in frigid zones

Cardiovascular disease(CVD)is the leading cause of death globally,with the majority of the adult population exposed to multiple traditional or non-traditional CVD risk factors[1].Among the latter,both acute and lengthy exposures to low temperatures can increase cardiovascular risk,particularly in individuals with an underlying CVD.The link between CVD and cold weather is reflected in a well-documented peak in cardiovascular deaths during the winter months[2].For example,investigators in Germany found that a 10°C decrease in 5-day average temperature was associated with a 1.10 relative risk of myocardial infarction[3],while in China each 1°C decrease in temperature during a cold wave increased the mortality risk from myocardial infarction by 1.82%[4].