Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Cardiovascular Disease Continuum: Problems of Studying the Progression During the Follow-Up of the Pathologies

This perspective piece extrapolates knowledge of mitochondriology to the clinical aspects of cardiovascular disease (CVDs) development. The aim was to deepen the understanding of the etiopathogenesis of CVDs by conceptualizing the systemic involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction mechanisms in their follow-up. A theoretical comparison of mitochondrial status and mitochondrial dysfunction across stages of the cardiovascular continuum was performed based on a systematic analysis of the scientific literature data using general scientific, theoretical, and logical methods and normative rules. Conceptual aspects of the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction (MD) mechanisms at each stage of the CVDs continuum were identified. MD is a dynamic, complex, multifactorial process that is characterized by quantitative and qualitative changes in the mitochondrial pool of human body cells during the development of CVDs. MD is a fundamental participant in the pathogenesis of CVDs, predetermining the nature and features of the clinical manifestation and course of the disease in each patient. MD has distinctive features at each stage of the catamnesis of CVDs and can be classified according to this principle. The development of objective methods for assessing the degree of MD and its classification criteria is a promising task for future scientific research.