Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) derived from bone marrow are capable of endocrine, reendothelialization of injured blood vessels and neovascularization of ischemic lesions; besides, they also play a major role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. However, the number and functions of circulating EPCs are greatly declined in patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Functions of EPCs are associated with not only pathophysiological factors such as aging, hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, but also personal lifestyle such as exercise, body weight and smoking, which directly influence the development of cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we mainly focus on the relationship between EPCs and cardiovascular risk factors and the potential roles of EPC therapy for cardiovascular diseases.