The reported associations of smog with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD subtypes were inconsistent. We systematically searched the Pubmed (Medline) and Embase databases (from the inception to April 25, 2018) to identify the cohort studies investigating the association between smog and CVD and specific types of CVD. We conducted a meta-analysis for different types of air pollutants (PM 2.5 , PM 10 , NO 2 , and O 3) in smog with the risk of specific types of CVD separately. We summarized the study-specific effect estimates using both the fixed effect model and the random effect model. The meta-analysis included 35 publications with 53 cohort studies. Overall, the associations between per 10 μg/m3 increase in PM 2.5 exposure and risk of CVD events, stroke events, ischemic heart disease(IHD) events were significant, with relative risks (RRs) of 1.11 (95% confidence interval: 1.07–1.15), 1.12 (95% CI: 1.08–1.16) and 1.14(95% CI: 1.08–1.21), respectively. PM 2.5 , PM 10 , NO 2 , and O 3 exposure were associated with an increased risk of CVD mortality, with RRs of 1.11 (95% CI: 1.07–1.15), 1.09 (95% CI: 1.02–1.16), 1.23 (95% CI: 1.15–1.31) and 1.03 (95% CI: 1.02–1.05), respectively. Compared with PM 10 , NO 2 , and O 3 exposure, PM 2.5 exposure had a greater risk of stroke incidence and IHD incidence (RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.05–1.19 for stroke incidence; 1.19, 1.09–1.30 for IHD). However, no clear evidence for the associations of PM10 exposure with risk of CVD incidence, stroke incidence, and IHD incidence was observed. This meta-analysis confirms the evidence that PM 2.5 exposure was significantly associated with increased risk of CVD, stroke, and IHD. PM2.5, PM 10 , NO 2 , and O 3 exposure were separately associated with an increased risk of CVD mortality. There was a stronger association between PM 2.5 exposure and the risk of stroke and IHD incidence. It urgently needs well-designed studies to further to elaborate the biological and epidemiological mechanisms that link smog with CVD. Compared with PM 10 , NO 2 , and O 3 exposures, PM 2.5 exposure was positively associated with increased risk of stroke and IHD incidence. For air pollutants and CVD events, the association of NO 2 with the risk CVD mortality is more significant. • Provide a more comprehensive assessment of the associations of smog with the risk of cardiovascular CVD. • Estimate the effects of main air pollutants in smog on the risk of CVD events. • Expore the epidemiological mechanisms that link smog with the risk of CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]