Aerobic or Resistance Exercise for maximum Cardiovascular Disease Protection? An Appraisal of the Current Level of Evidence

Introduction: The beneficial role of physical activity on the cardiovascular system has been well established and appreciated. The aim of this narrative review was to present a summary of the latest recommendations for physical activity, and to evaluate the most recent scientific evidence regarding the role of aerobic and or resistance exercise in relation to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk.

Methods: Narrative review; searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. The guidelines of major Organizations (i.e., European Society of Cardiology, American College of Cardiology/ American Heart Association, American College of Sports Medicine, and World Heart Federation, World Heart Organization) were also retrieved and presented here.

Results: Engagement in regular aerobic exercise is strongly recommended for all people and by all scientific organizations for reducing ASCVD mortality and morbidity. Resistance exercise should be implemented in addition to aerobic, however, its individual effects on ASCVD risk are not well established.

Conclusions: A reduction of sedentary behavior at population level reduces the healthcare costs by multiple ways. Effective approaches should be implemented that include behavior theory-based interventions, e.g., goal-setting, re-evaluation of goals, self-monitoring, and feedback. Most important is to encourage activity that individuals enjoy and/or can be included in their daily life.