Effects of Exercise Training in Heart Transplant Recipients: A Meta-Analysis
- 16 November 2011
- journal article
- research article
- Published by S. Karger AG in JMIR AI
- Vol. 120 (1), 27-35
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000332998
Abstract
Muscle wasting and exercise intolerance are common in heart transplant recipients. Most studies on the effects of exercise training have used relatively small sample sizes and are heterogeneous in nature. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to systematically review the relevant studies and investigate the effects of exercise training on exercise capacity and muscle strength in heart transplant recipients. A systematic search was adopted from electronic databases and relevant references, using medical subject heading key words related to heart transplantation and exercise. Only randomized controlled trials with exercise intervention versus usual care were included. The data were expressed as the weighted mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Altogether 6 studies were included. Peak oxygen consumption (VO(2)) was reported in 4 trials (117 patients), and muscle strength was reported in 3 trials (67 patients). Peak VO(2) was significantly increased by 2.34 ml/kg/min (95% CI 0.63-4.05). One-repetition maxima of the chest press (23.28 kg, 95% CI 0.64-45.91) and leg press (28.84 kg, 95% CI 5.70-51.98) were significantly improved by exercise training. Exercise training is recommended for heart transplant recipients to improve peak VO(2) and muscle strength despite the small number of trials included in this meta-analysis.Keywords
This publication has 40 references indexed in Scilit:
- Muscle metaboreflex control of the circulation during exerciseActa Physiologica, 2010
- Is exercise training an effective therapy targeting endothelial dysfunction and vascular wall inflammation?International Journal of Cardiology, 2010
- The Effect of Physical Exercise on Endothelial FunctionSports Medicine, 2009
- Effect of Resistance Exercise on Skeletal Muscle Myopathy in Heart Transplant RecipientsThe American Journal of Cardiology, 2005
- Effect of exercise training on V̇O2peak and left ventricular systolic function in recent cardiac transplant recipientsThe American Journal of Cardiology, 2005
- Sympathetic reinnervation after heart transplantation, assessed by iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine imaging, and heart rate variabilityEuropean Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 2004
- Effects of upper extremity exercise training on peak aerobic and anaerobic fitness in patients after transplantationThe American Journal of Cardiology, 2004
- Regular physical exercise improves endothelial function in heart transplant recipientsClinical Transplantation, 2002
- Assessing the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials: Is blinding necessary?Controlled Clinical Trials, 1996
- Reinnervation of the transplanted human heart as evidenced from heart rate variability studiesThe American Journal of Cardiology, 1996