Physical activity and cardiac rehabilitation in COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular complications

Abstract

Recent data has revealed the cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 infection. The mechanism of cardiovascular impairments involves binding of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus-2 (CoV-2) to the protein angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), thus penetrating into the cells. There are other mechanisms, most of which are under research and will be explained. Cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 infection are heart failure, cardiomyopathy, acute coronary syndrome, arrhythmias, and venous thromboembolism. This article aims to collect scientific evidence by exploring PubMed, Scopus, and Pedro databases to show the cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 infection and the benefit of physiotherapy treatment for these patients. Exercise training is a powerful element in physiotherapy and an important part of cardiac rehabilitation. It contributes to significant changes of the cardiovascular system - recovery of endothelial dysfunction and prevention of thromboembolic complications. In conclusion, due to the wide variety of programs of exercise training, as well as patient monitoring, physical activity is appropriate strategy for the treatment of cardiovascular complications of various degrees in post-COVID patients. 

Keywords

• rehabilitation
• COVID-19 infection
• cardiovascular