Key result
Exercise training may reduce post-COVID CV risk by mitigating inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and arterial stiffness.
Why the study?
Post-COVID syndrome is associated with persistent cardiovascular abnormalities and increased atherosclerotic risk, warranting a review of pathophysiological mechanisms and the role of exercise training to mitigate vascular dysfunction.
Exercise training is a promising non-pharmacological strategy to mitigate persistent inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and accelerated vascular aging in patients with post-COVID syndrome.
May support individualized exercise rehab for PASC functional recovery now; leaves open effects on endothelial function, stiffness, and atherosclerotic events.
Purpose of Review Post-COVID syndrome (PASC) has emerged as a multisystem condition associated with persistent cardiovascular abnormalities, including endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness, chronic inflammation, metabolic disturbances, autonomic imbalance, and increased atherosclerotic risk. This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the pathophysiological mechanisms linking PASC to cardiovascular disease and discusses the potential role of exercise training as a strategy to mitigate vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular risk. Recent Findings Recent studies demonstrate that individuals with PASC exhibit persistent low-grade inflammation, impaired endothelial function, accelerated vascular aging, platelet hyperreactivity, insulin resistance, sarcopenia, and autonomic dysfunction. These alterations contribute to a pro-atherogenic phenotype that may persist months to years after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Emerging evidence indicates that exercise training improves inflammatory status, endothelial function, arterial stiffness, metabolic health, autonomic regulation, and functional capacity in post-COVID patients, potentially attenuating mechanisms involved in atherosclerotic progression. Summary Post-COVID syndrome is associated with multiple interconnected biological pathways that increase long-term cardiovascular risk. Exercise training appears to be a promising non-pharmacological intervention capable of targeting several of these mechanisms simultaneously. Although further randomized controlled trials are needed, current evidence supports the integration of individualized exercise-based rehabilitation into the management of patients with PASC to promote vascular recovery and reduce cardiovascular risk.
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Goulart et al. (2026) conducted a review in Post-COVID syndrome (PASC). Exercise training was evaluated. Exercise training is a promising non-pharmacological intervention that may mitigate persistent inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and arterial stiffness to reduce cardiovascular risk in post-COVID syndrome.
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