Physical activity, exercise training, and prevention in cardiovascular disease: improving outcomes through evidence-based management

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent a major and heterogeneous group of disorders affecting the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular pathologies. According to the World Health Organization, CVDs remain the leading cause of death worldwide, contributing to roughly one-third of all global mortality. Beyond the high fatality rates, CVDs significantly impair physical function, quality of life, and economic productivity. Physical inactivity has been consistently identified as a major modifiable risk factor for CVD, while regular physical activity and structured exercise have demonstrated profound benefits for cardiovascular health, including enhancements in cardiorespiratory fitness, vascular function, metabolic control, and survival outcomes. These findings reinforce the essential role of physical activity as the cornerstone of CVD prevention and management.

Recent evidence highlights the integral role of physical activity counseling and structured exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in reducing hospitalizations, improving psychological and physical well-being, and lowering cardiovascular events and mortality rates. Despite strong evidence and clear guideline recommendations, participation, adherence, and equitable access to such programs remain suboptimal across many healthcare settings. This gap underscores the need for innovative, accessible, and patient-centered approaches to exercise prescription and delivery, particularly in high-risk and underrepresented populations. Advances in digital health technologies, tele-rehabilitation, wearable sensors, and data-driven personalization present opportunities to enhance engagement and optimize outcomes for individuals living with or at risk for cardiovascular disease.

This Research Topic aims to advance knowledge and foster interdisciplinary collaboration on the role of physical activity, exercise training, and preventive interventions in the management of cardiovascular disease. It seeks to promote the dissemination of high-quality, evidence-based, and translational research that addresses the physiological, behavioral, and systemic determinants of cardiovascular health. The ultimate objective is to improve functional capacity, encourage sustained lifestyle modification, and reduce morbidity and mortality among individuals affected by or at risk for CVD.

To gather further insights in the comprehensive prevention and management of cardiovascular disease through physical activity and exercise interventions, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

o Mechanistic, physiological, and clinical effects of aerobic, resistance, or combined exercise training in different CVD populations

o Implementation of science perspectives and strategies to enhance participation and adherence to cardiac rehabilitation

o Digital health, tele-exercise programs, and novel technologies supporting remote monitoring and patient engagement

o Behavioral counseling and health psychology approaches to promote physical activity and sustain long-term adherence

o Exercise safety, prescription models, and individualized adaptations for patients with multiple comorbidities

o The role of multidisciplinary collaboration and policy-level interventions in optimizing cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation outcomes

This Research Topic welcomes original research, systematic and narrative reviews, meta-analyses, case studies, qualitative and quantitative research, and mixed-methods studies focusing on physical activity and exercise-based interventions in cardiovascular populations.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease, Physical activity, Exercise training, Cardiac rehabilitation, Secondary prevention, Cardiorespiratory fitness, Behavior change, Tele-rehabilitation, Lifestyle intervention, Digital health, Exercise adherence, Risk factor modificati

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.