Colchicine, a classic anti-inflammatory agent, has been long used for the prevention and treatment of gouty arthritis and familial Mediterranean fever. Given the pivotal role of inflammation in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, the clinical value of colchicine in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases has attracted significant attention. Diabetes mellitus （DM） leads to severe and irreversible vascular complications, and cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in patients with DM. However, existing research indicated heterogeneity in the therapeutic efficacy of colchicine among patients with cardiovascular diseases and those with diabetes complicated by cardiovascular conditions. The heterogeneity manifests as differences in efficacy across various disease stages, patient baseline characteristics, specific cardiovascular event types, endpoint definitions, and treatment regimens. The current domestic and international research findings on colchicine in relation to cardiovascular events—both in patients with CVD and in those with diabetes—were reviewed, with the aim of elucidating the underlying causes of this efficacy heterogeneity and providing evidence-based guidance for identifying patients likely to benefit and optimizing individualized treatment strategies in clinical practice.