Efficacy of exercise training-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: International journal of cardiology. Cardiovascular risk and prevention Vol. 20; p. 200238
• Main Authors: Hosseinpour, Alireza, Azami, Pouria, Hosseinpour, Hamidreza, Attar, Armin, Koushkie Jahromi, Maryam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: 6-Min walk test; Barthel index; Cardiac rehabilitation; Exercise training; Research Paper; Transcatheter aortic valve implantation; Transcatheter aortic valve implantation; Barthel index; Exercise training; 6-Min walk test; Cardiac rehabilitation
• ISSN: 2772-4875; 2772-4875
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcrp.2024.200238

The beneficial effects of exercise training-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in different cardiac conditions have been previously studied. In this meta-analysis, we focused on the potential impact of CR on patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Multiple databases were searched in a systematic approach to find the eligible studies. All the studies investigating the potential impact of exercise training-based CR programmes on exercise capacity and health-related quality of life in patients undergoing TAVI were retrieved. The primary endpoint of interest was 6-min walk test (6MWT). The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were measured to compare the improvement or worsening the endpoints using a random- or fixed-effects model, as appropriate. A total of eleven studies (685 patients) were considered eligible for quantitative synthesis. The results showed that performing exercise training-based CR after TAVI is associated with significant improvement in 6MWT (SMD 0.59, 95 % CI (0.48; 0.71), p < 0.01), Barthel index (SMD 0.73, 95 % CI (0.57; 0.89), p < 0.01), 12-item Short Form (SF-12) physical (SMD 0.30, 95 % CI (0.08; 0.52), p < 0.01) and mental (SMD 0.27, 95 % CI (0.05; 0.49), p = 0.02) survey scores, and hospital anxiety and depression scale – depression (HADS-D) score (SMD -0.26, 95 % CI (−0.42; −0.10), p < 0.01). Performing exercise training-based CR following TAVI has significant benefits regarding physical capacity and health-related quality of life irrespective of the programme duration.