Hypoxia inducible factors (HIF) are hypoxia-sensitive transcription factors that are the primary regulators of the cellular response to hypoxia. Hypoxia inducible factors induce inflammation, lipid metabolism, endothelial dysfunction, proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), and regulate the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This paper reviews the role of hypoxia inducible factors in CVD and the progress of the mechanism of action in recent years, and discusses the role and mechanism of hypoxia inducible factors on vascular constituent cell types and its relationship with the occurrence and development of CVD. It can provide a reference for analyzing the pathogenesis of CVD and discovering new therapeutic targets. The aim is to provide a theoretical reference for further understanding the role and mechanism of hypoxia inducible factors in the pathogenesis of CVD, and to provide a basis for the design of novel effective therapeutic agents targeting hypoxia inducible factors.