Observational studyArquivos brasileiros de cardiologia2026
Arterial Stiffness, Clinical-Functional Outcomes, and Quality of Life in Post-COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Observational study in Arquivos brasileiros de cardiologia, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundArterial remodeling leading to increased arterial stiffness involves mechanisms such as oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species production, neuroendocrine alterations, and genetic predisposition. These processes are also involved in the pathophysiology of COVID-19. However, the relationship between arterial stiffness, hemodynamic parameters, and clinical-functional outcomes in post-COVID-19 patients has not yet been adequately investigated.
objectivesTo investigate arterial stiffness, central and peripheral hemodynamic parameters, functional performance, quality of life, fatigue, dyspnea, and sleep quality in post-COVID-19 patients.
methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted with individuals in the post-COVID-19 group (PCG) and matched individuals in the control group (n = 32). Arterial stiffness was assessed using pulse wave velocity (PWV) and the augmentation index corrected to a heart rate of 75 bpm (AIx@75). Functional performance was evaluated using the five-times sit-to-stand test, handgrip strength, quality of life (assessed with the 12-Item Short Form Survey), fatigue (assessed with the Brazilian version of the Fatigue Severity Scale), dyspnea (assessed with the modified Medical Research Council scale), and sleep quality.
resultsThe PCG showed higher PWV values (Δ = 0.80 m/s; 95%CI, 0.08 to 1.52; p = 0.03) and AIx@75 (Δ = 8.34; 95%CI, 2.02 to 14.66; p = 0.01) as well as higher levels of central and peripheral blood pressure. Worse functional performance was observed (Δ = 4.39 s; 95%CI, 2.70 to 6.08; p < 0.01), along with poorer quality of life in the physical component (Δ = -9.35; 95%CI, -12.45 to -6.25; p < 0.01). Fatigue, dyspnea, and sleep quality outcomes were also significantly worse in the PCG. In the adjusted analysis, PWV was independently associated with age and systolic blood pressure, but not with post-COVID-19 status.
conclusionPost-COVID-19 patients exhibit greater arterial stiffness, hemodynamic alterations, and poorer clinical-functional performance. However, arterial stiffness appears to be predominantly determined by hemodynamic factors and aging rather than by post-COVID-19 status independently, suggesting that the observed functional impairment results from multifactorial mechanisms.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.