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<article article-type="research-article" dtd-version="1.3" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xml:lang="en"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">rpcardio</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title xml:lang="en">Rational Pharmacotherapy in Cardiology</journal-title><trans-title-group xml:lang="ru"><trans-title>Рациональная Фармакотерапия в Кардиологии</trans-title></trans-title-group></journal-title-group><issn pub-type="ppub">1819-6446</issn><issn pub-type="epub">2225-3653</issn><publisher><publisher-name>«SILICEA-POLIGRAF» LLC</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.20996/1819-6446-2026-3273</article-id><article-id custom-type="edn" pub-id-type="custom">SBXGYZ</article-id><article-id custom-type="elpub" pub-id-type="custom">rpcardio-3273</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Research Article</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="section-heading" xml:lang="en"><subject>ORIGINAL STUDIES</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="section-heading" xml:lang="ru"><subject>ОРИГИНАЛЬНЫЕ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title>Predictors of post-COVID syndrome: opposing effects of arterial stiffness and targeted therapy in acute COVID-19</article-title><trans-title-group xml:lang="ru"><trans-title>Предикторы развития постковидного синдрома: разнонаправленные эффекты артериальной жесткости и таргетных препаратов в остром периоде COVID-19</trans-title></trans-title-group></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author" corresp="yes"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0758-5609</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name name-style="eastern" xml:lang="ru"><surname>Подзолков</surname><given-names>В. И.</given-names></name><name name-style="western" xml:lang="en"><surname>Podzolkov</surname><given-names>V. I.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>Подзолков Валерий Иванович  </p><p>Большая Пироговская ул., 2, стр. 4, Москва, 119435 </p></bio><bio xml:lang="en"><p>Valery I. Podzolkov </p><p>Bolshaya Pirogovskaya str., 2-4, Moscow, 119435 </p></bio><email xlink:type="simple">Podzolkov@list.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff-1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" corresp="yes"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9722-6097</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name name-style="eastern" xml:lang="ru"><surname>Шведов</surname><given-names>И. И.</given-names></name><name name-style="western" xml:lang="en"><surname>Shvedov</surname><given-names>Ilya I.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>Шведов Илья Игоревич </p><p>Большая Пироговская ул., 2, стр. 4, Москва, 119435 </p></bio><bio xml:lang="en"><p>Ilya I. Shvedov </p><p>Bolshaya Pirogovskaya str., 2-4, Moscow, 119435 </p></bio><email xlink:type="simple">shvedov@gmail.com</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff-2"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" corresp="yes"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9789-4221</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name name-style="eastern" xml:lang="ru"><surname>Джаиани</surname><given-names>Нино Амирановна</given-names></name><name name-style="western" xml:lang="en"><surname>Dzhaiani</surname><given-names>Nino A.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>Джаиани Нино Амирановна  </p><p>д. 4, Москва, 127006 </p></bio><bio xml:lang="en"><p>Nino A. Dzhaiani</p><p>Dolgorukovskaya str., 4, Moscow, 127006 </p></bio><email xlink:type="simple">doctorni@yandex.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff-3"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" corresp="yes"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2699-1610</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name name-style="eastern" xml:lang="ru"><surname>Брагина</surname><given-names>А. Е.</given-names></name><name name-style="western" xml:lang="en"><surname>Bragina</surname><given-names>Anna E.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>Брагина Анна Евгеньевна  </p><p>Большая Пироговская ул., 2, стр. 4, Москва, 119435 </p></bio><bio xml:lang="en"><p>Anna E. Bragina </p><p>Bolshaya Pirogovskaya str., 2-4, Moscow, 119435 </p></bio><email xlink:type="simple">anna.bragina@mail.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff-2"/></contrib></contrib-group><aff-alternatives id="aff-1"><aff xml:lang="ru"><institution>ФГАОУ ВО Первый Московский государственный медицинский университет им. И. М. Сеченова Минздрава России (Сеченовский Университет)</institution><country>Россия</country></aff><aff xml:lang="en"><institution>I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)</institution><country>Russian Federation</country></aff></aff-alternatives><aff-alternatives id="aff-2"><aff xml:lang="ru"><institution>ФГАОУ ВО «Первый Московский государственный медицинский университет им. И.М. Сеченова» Минздрава России (Сеченовский Университет)</institution><country>Россия</country></aff><aff xml:lang="en"><institution>I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)</institution><country>Russian Federation</country></aff></aff-alternatives><aff-alternatives id="aff-3"><aff xml:lang="ru"><institution>ФГБОУ ВО «Российский университет медицины» Минздрава России</institution><country>Россия</country></aff><aff xml:lang="en"><institution>FSBEI HE "ROSUNIMED" OF MOH OF RUSSIA</institution><country>Russian Federation</country></aff></aff-alternatives><pub-date pub-type="collection"><year>2026</year></pub-date><pub-date pub-type="epub"><day>11</day><month>04</month><year>2026</year></pub-date><volume>22</volume><issue>1</issue><fpage>30</fpage><lpage>36</lpage><permissions><copyright-statement>Copyright &amp;#x00A9; Podzolkov V.I., Shvedov I.I., Dzhaiani N.A., Bragina A.E., 2026</copyright-statement><copyright-year>2026</copyright-year><copyright-holder xml:lang="ru">Подзолков В.И., Шведов И.И., Джаиани Н.А., Брагина А.Е.</copyright-holder><copyright-holder xml:lang="en">Podzolkov V.I., Shvedov I.I., Dzhaiani N.A., Bragina A.E.</copyright-holder><license xml:lang="ru" license-type="creative-commons-attribution" xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" xlink:type="simple"><license-p>Данная работа распространяется под лицензией Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.</license-p></license><license xml:lang="en" license-type="creative-commons-attribution" xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" xlink:type="simple"><license-p>This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.</license-p></license></permissions><self-uri xlink:href="https://www.rpcardio.online/jour/article/view/3273">https://www.rpcardio.online/jour/article/view/3273</self-uri><abstract><sec><title>Aim</title><p>Aim. To evaluate the impact of arterial stiffness and targeted therapy (biologic drugs and Janus kinase inhibitor) during the acute phase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the risk of post-COVID syndrome (PCS). The rationale for the study is the high prevalence of PCS and the insufficient knowledge of factors influencing its development, especially in the context of using modern biologic drugs.</p></sec><sec><title>Material and methods</title><p>Material and methods. The prospective observational study included 129 adult patients (55% women) hospitalised with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. The mean age was 59.16±13.38 years. Upon admission, all participants underwent measurement of the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) to assess arterial stiffness. Data on the acute course of illness and clinical status during the 6-month follow-up after discharge were obtained from electronic medical records. PCS was diagnosed according to WHO criteria. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of PCS, with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) calculated. Results. PCS was diagnosed in 33.3% of patients. The most common PCS symptoms were fatigue (20.2%), headache (10.9%), shortness of breath (10.1%), palpitations (9.3%), and dizziness (8.5%). Univariate analysis revealed significant association with PCS development for age, arterial hypertension (AH), level of systolic blood pressure (SBP) at admission, elevated CAVI index (≥ 9.5), and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The multivariate regression model confirmed the independent status of three predictors: elevated CAVI index (OR 3.533; 95% CI 1.242-10.047; p=0.018) and SBP level at hospitalization (OR 1.053; 95% CI 1.016-1.091; p=0.004) were associated with an increased risk of PCS. At the same time, the use of targeted drugs (levilimab, olokizumab, baricitinib) during the acute phase of COVID-19 significantly reduced the likelihood of developing PCS (OR 0.276; 95% CI 0.104-0.734; p=0.010), which corresponds to a 3.62-fold reduction in odds.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Conclusion. Increased arterial stiffness (CAVI ≥9.5) and elevated systolic blood pressure at hospitalisation are independent predictors of PCS, supporting a key role of vascular dysfunction in its pathogenesis. Targeted therapy administered during the acute phase of COVID-19 was associated with a protective effect against PCS, possibly through attenuation of cytokine-driven inflammation and prevention of prolonged endothelial injury. These findings support the potential value of targeted therapy not only for improving acute COVID-19 outcomes but also for reducing long-term adverse outcome, and underscore the importance of monitoring and managing vascular risk factors in COVID-19 survivors.</p></sec></abstract><trans-abstract xml:lang="ru"><sec><title>Цель</title><p>Цель. Провести анализ влияния сосудистой жесткости и терапии таргетными препаратами (генно-инженерными биологическими препаратами (ГИБП) и ингибитором янус-киназ) в остром периоде новой коронавирусной инфекции (COVID-19) на риск развития постковидного синдрома (ПКС). Актуальность работы обусловлена высокой распространенностью ПКС и недостаточной изученностью факторов, влияющих на его развитие, особенно в контексте применения современных ГИБП.</p></sec><sec><title>Материал и методы</title><p>Материал и методы. Проведено проспективное наблюдательное исследование с участием 129 взрослых пациентов (55% женщин), госпитализированных с подтвержденным диагнозом COVID-19. Средний возраст составил 59,16±13,38 лет. Всем участникам при госпитализации измерялся сердечно-лодыжечный сосудистый индекс (CAVI) для оценки артериальной жесткости. Данные о течении острого периода и состоянии пациентов в течение 6 мес. после выписки собирались из электронных медицинских карт. Диагноз ПКС устанавливался в соответствии с критериями ВОЗ. Для статистического анализа использовались методы однофакторной и многофакторной логистической регрессии для оценки независимых предикторов ПКС с расчетом отношения шансов (ОШ) и 95% доверительного интервала (ДИ).</p></sec><sec><title>Результаты</title><p>Результаты. ПКС был диагностирован у 33,3% пациентов. Наиболее частыми симптомами ПКС были утомляемость (20,2%), головная боль (10,9%), одышка (10,1%), сердцебиение (9,3%) и головокружение (8,5%). Однофакторный анализ выявил значимые ассоциации с развитием ПКС для возраста, наличия артериальной гипертензии, уровня систолического артериального давления при поступлении, повышенного индекса CAVI (≥9,5) и скорости клубочковой фильтрации. Многофакторная регрессионная модель подтвердила независимый статус трех предикторов: повышенный индекс CAVI (ОШ 3,533; 95% ДИ 1,242–10,047; p=0,018) и уровень систолического артериального давления при госпитализации (ОШ 1,053; 95% ДИ 1,016-1,091; p=0,004) были ассоциированы с повышенным риском ПКС. В то же время применение ГИБП (левилимаб, олокизумаб) и ингибитора янус-киназ барицитиниба в остром периоде COVID-19 статистически значимо снижало вероятность развития ПКС (ОШ 0,276; 95% ДИ 0,104-0,734; p=0,010), что соответствует снижению шансов в 3,62 раза.</p></sec><sec><title>Заключение</title><p>Заключение. Результаты исследования демонстрируют, что повышенная артериальная жесткость (CAVI ≥ 9,5) и высокий уровень систолического артериального давления при госпитализации являются независимыми предикторами развития ПКС, что подтверждает ключевую роль сосудистых нарушений в его патогенезе. Важным практическим выводом является выявление протективного эффекта терапии таргетными препаратами в остром периоде COVID-19 в отношении риска развития ПКС. Этот эффект, вероятно, связан с подавлением цитокинового шторма и системного воспаления, что предотвращает длительное повреждение эндотелия. Полученные данные обосновывают целесообразность применения ГИБП не только для улучшения исходов в остром периоде новой коронавирусной инфекции, но и для профилактики отдаленных последствий, а также подчеркивают необходимость мониторинга и коррекции сосудистых факторов у переболевших COVID-19.</p></sec></trans-abstract><kwd-group xml:lang="ru"><kwd>COVID-19</kwd><kwd>постковидный синдром</kwd><kwd>предикторы</kwd><kwd>сосудистая жесткость</kwd><kwd>сердечно-лодыжечный сосудистый индекс</kwd><kwd>таргетные препараты</kwd><kwd>генно-инженерные биологические препараты</kwd><kwd>ингибитор янус-киназ</kwd></kwd-group><kwd-group xml:lang="en"><kwd>COVID-19</kwd><kwd>post-COVID syndrome</kwd><kwd>predictors</kwd><kwd>arterial stiffness</kwd><kwd>cardio-ankle vascular index</kwd><kwd>targeted agents</kwd><kwd>genetic engineering biologic drugs</kwd><kwd>janus kinase inhibitor</kwd></kwd-group></article-meta></front><back><ref-list><title>References</title><ref id="cit1"><label>1</label><citation-alternatives><mixed-citation xml:lang="ru">Hermans LE, Wasserman S, Xu L, Eikelboom J. 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