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Published on: April 19, 2019
Exercise and Cardiovascular Risk Modulation in Post-COVID Syndrome
Cássia da Luz Goulart1, Leandro Tolfo Franzoni2, Filipe Ferrari2
1Exercise Cardiology Research Group (CardioEx), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. luz.cassia@hotmail.com.
Current Atherosclerosis Reports
|August 13, 2026
Summary
Post-COVID syndrome (PASC) causes cardiovascular issues like inflammation and arterial stiffness. Exercise training shows promise in improving vascular function and reducing long-term heart disease risk in PASC patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
- Infectious Disease Immunology
Background:
- Post-COVID syndrome (PASC) is a multisystem condition linked to persistent cardiovascular abnormalities.
- These include endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness, chronic inflammation, metabolic disturbances, and autonomic imbalance, increasing atherosclerotic risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review pathophysiological mechanisms connecting PASC to cardiovascular disease.
- To discuss exercise training as a strategy for mitigating vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular risk in PASC.
Main Methods:
- Review of current scientific literature on PASC and cardiovascular outcomes.
- Analysis of studies investigating the effects of exercise training on PASC-related cardiovascular markers.
Main Results:
- PASC patients exhibit persistent low-grade inflammation, impaired endothelial function, accelerated vascular aging, and autonomic dysfunction.
- Exercise training improves inflammatory status, endothelial function, arterial stiffness, metabolic health, and autonomic regulation in PASC.
- These improvements suggest exercise can attenuate mechanisms of atherosclerotic progression.
Conclusions:
- PASC involves interconnected biological pathways that elevate long-term cardiovascular risk.
- Exercise training is a promising non-pharmacological intervention targeting multiple PASC-related mechanisms.
- Individualized exercise rehabilitation may aid vascular recovery and reduce cardiovascular risk in PASC patients.
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Definition
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Purposes
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Definition
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