Effects of Exercise Training on Cardiovascular Risks Factors in Primary and Secondary Prevention

Dear Colleagues,

Physical activity, mainly in the form of structured exercise training, is a key non-pharmacological intervention for the management of patients at risk of developing and/or with already-diagnosed cardiovascular diseases. Counteracting cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, is one of the main ways in which exercise reduces cardiovascular risk and improves patient outcomes. Performing physical training is highly recommended by the World Health Organization and by European as well as American guidelines; however, while physical training is currently conceived as a large-scale intervention, aimed at the entire population, there is a growing need for developing individually tailored protocols considering the distinctive characteristics and risk profiles of patients. This is particularly true in aging societies where exercise must be adapted to elderly cardiovascular patients carrying multiple cardiovascular risk factors and a high burden of comorbidities.

To use exercise more properly in different clinical scenarios, we need to fill several gaps in the current knowledge. The best format of exercise training for containing cardiovascular risk factors is still to be defined. It is necessary to establish a dose–effect response in different age groups and in both genders, and to identify the best dose of exercise necessary to contain multiple risk factors at the same time. Moreover, to increase the adherence to exercise training programs, it is worth studying the effectiveness of short daily sessions of exercise, that are easily deliverable and do not limit the daily routines of patients. Studies exploring potential synergic or antagonistic effects of exercise and drugs (especially those more recently introduced) on risk factors are lacking. Women, elderly, and frail patients are under-represented in trials assessing the effects of exercise on cardiovascular risk factors.

This Special Issue aims to collect original articles, reviews, and meta-analyses reporting the latest findings on the topic of exercise effects on cardiovascular risk factors.

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Caminiti
Guest Editor

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• exercise training
• cardiovascular risk factors
• physical activity
• personalized exercise protocols
• aging and cardiovascular health