LAUSR

BACKGROUND Prior studies indicate that doing breathing exercises improves physical performance and quality of life (QoL) in heart failure patients. However, these effects remain unclear and contradictory. AIM To determine the effects of machine-assisted and non-machine-assisted respiratory training on physical performance and QoL in heart failure patients. METHODS This was a systematic review and network meta-analysis study. A literature search of electronic databases was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on heart failure. Respiratory training interventions were grouped as seven categories: IMT_Pn (inspiratory muscle training without pressure or < 10% maximal inspiratory pressure, MIP), IMT_Pl (inspiratory muscle training with low pressure, 10%-15% MIP), IMT_Pm (inspiratory muscle training with medium pressure, 30%-40% MIP), IMT_Ph (inspiratory muscle training with high pressure, 60% MIP or MIP plus aerobics), Aerobics (aerobic exercise or weight training), Qi_Ex (tai chi, yoga, and breathing exercise), and none. The four outcomes were heart rate, peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak), 6-min walking distance test (6MWT), and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure QoL. The random-effects model, side-splitting model, and the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) were used to test and analyze the data. RESULTS A total of 1499 subjects from 31 RCT studies were included. IMT_Ph had the highest effect sizes for VO2 peak and 6MWT, IMT_Pm highest for QoL, and Qi_Ex highest for heart rate. Aerobics had the second highest for VO2 peak, Qi_Ex second highest for 6MWT, and IMT_Ph second highest for heart rate and QoL. CONCLUSION This study supports that high- and medium-intensity machine-assisted training improves exercise capacity and QoL in hospital-based heart failure patients. After hospital discharge, non-machine-assisted training continuously improves cardiac function.