In 2011, he was the world's second-most cited cardiology researcher. and in 2020, he was the most-cited scientist in the world in cardiology. Yusuf's large-scale clinical trials have had a significant impact on the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. in particular, he has demonstrated the value of combinations of blood pressure lowering and lipid lowering with statins and of combinations of antiplatelet therapy and joint use of anticoagulants and aspirin in low doses to prevent cardiovascular disease and death.

He was president of the World Congress of Cardiology in 2015 and 2016, where he initiated the Emerging Leaders Program that mentors 25 people form around the world to undertake research into improving cardiovascular health. In its first 6 years, the program has trained 150 people from about 50 countries.