The present paper aims to review the main pathophysiological links between red blood cell disorders and cardiovascular diseases,\nprovides a brief description of the latest studies in this area, and considers implications for clinical practice and therapy. Anemia is\nassociated with a special risk in proatherosclerotic conditions and heart disease and became a new therapeutic target. Guidelines\nmust be updated for the management of patients with red blood cell disorders and cardiovascular diseases, and targets for\nhemoglobin level should be established. Risk scores in several cardiovascular diseases should include red blood cell count and RDW.\nComplete blood count and hemorheological parameters represent useful, inexpensive, widely available tools for the management\nand prognosis of patients with coronary heart disease, heart failure, hypertension, arrhythmias, and stroke. Hypoxia and iron\naccumulation cause the most important cardiovascular effects of sickle cell disease and thalassemia. Patients with congenital chronic\nhemolytic anemia undergoing splenectomy should be monitored, considering thromboembolic and cardiovascular risk
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