Effects of Traditional Chinese Training on Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: Whether Traditional Chinese training (TCT) is effective in Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) patients remains to need further evidence. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the effects of TCT on exercise capacity and quality of life in CVDs patients. Methods and Results: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang and WeiPu databases (from inception to December 2019) were searched for relevant articles. Interventions considered were TCTs with or without comparisons (Western Routine Medicine Treatment or usual care). Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 test. 21 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (n=1517) met the inclusion criteria. The six-minute walk test of patients performing TCT improved by 73.78 m (95% CI 32.57-114.99, P=0.0004; I2=99%, P<0.00001). The MLHF score of the TCT group was significantly lower than that of the control group (WMD -11.27m;95% CI -20.61 to -1.92, P=0.02; I2=98%, P<0.00001). There was an obvious effect of TCT for LVEF (WMD, 3.36 m; 95% CI 2.17 to 4.55, P=0.06; I2=47%, P<0.00001). The BNP of patients performing TCTs significantly improved (WMD, -59.99 m; 95% CI -92.7 to -27.29, P=0.03; I2=7%, P=0.0003). A downward trend was observed of the TCT group compared with the control group (RR, 0.3; 95% CI 0.09 to 1.03, P=0.83; I2=0%, P=0.005). Conclusions: TCT is good for CVDs patients and easy to popularize. And TCT may improve the exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with CVDs. Currently, further RCTs of high quality are needed to investigate the effects of TCT. Funding Statement: National Natural Science Foundation Item(81673758, 81874458) Declaration of Interests: The authors stated that there are no conflicts of Interests.