Keywords
Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome
Cardiovascular diseases
Heart diseases
Cardiovascular sequelae
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Abstract
Objective: To analyze scientific evidence on post-COVID-19 cardiovascular sequelae in adults with and without previous heart disease, emphasizing clinical manifestations, underlying mechanisms, and implications for follow-up in the Brazilian context. Methods: This integrative literature review was structured according to the PICO strategy and conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Virtual Health Library, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature databases, including publications from 2019 to 2025. Studies addressing cardiovascular outcomes after the acute phase of COVID-19 in adults were selected. Results: The final sample included 30 studies, predominantly observational studies, cohorts, and clinical registries. The main sequelae identified were myocardial injury, myocarditis, arrhythmias, dysautonomia, persistent tachycardia, exercise intolerance, heart failure, endothelial dysfunction, thromboembolic events, and new-onset hypertension. Adults with previous heart disease showed greater vulnerability to clinical decompensation and poorer functional capacity, whereas individuals without known cardiovascular disease also developed persistent post-acute manifestations. Final considerations: Post-COVID-19 cardiovascular sequelae require longitudinal, individualized, and risk-guided care, integrating primary care, cardiology, cardiovascular rehabilitation, and telemonitoring, particularly in settings marked by unequal access to specialized follow-up.
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