Effectiveness of rehabilitation exercise for preventing intensive care unit patients acquired weakness: a Meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective To system review the effectiveness of rehabilitation exercise for preventing intensive care unit patients acquired weakness (ICU-AW) . Methods A computerized database search was performed through the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, Wanfang and VIP database to find relevant studies. Two researchers independently selected the studies, evaluated the quality of the articles and extracted data according to the rigorous criterion, then we performed the Meta-analysis with the software RevMan5.3. Results Nine RCTs were included in this study. Comparing to routine care, Meta-analysis showed that rehabilitation exercise improved peripheral muscle strength in ICU-AW patients[MD=5.77, 95%CI (2.36, 9.18) , P=0.000 9], respiratory muscle strength[MD=20.38, 95%CI (0.79, 39.96) , P=0.04], and quality of life[MD=27.96, 95%CI (13.28, 42.63) , P=0.000 2], shortened the duration of mechanical ventilation[MD=-2.73, 95%CI (-4.98, -0.48) , P=0.02] and length of stay in hospital[MD=-1.99, 95%CI (-3.28, -0.71) , P=0.002], while it had no positive effect on mortality[OR=0.91, 95%CI (0.51, 1.62) , P=0.74]. Conclusions Rehabilitation exercise improves physical function of patients with ICU-AW, and reduces the bad clinically relevant indicators, and it doesn't influence the mortality, so it is worth being popularized. Key words: Rehabilitation exercise; ICU acquired weakness; Effect of intervention; Meta-analysis