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Effects of Tai Chi training on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure: a meta-analysis.

AbstractAIM:
Whether Tai Chi (TC) is effective in the cardiac rehabilitation of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) remains controversial. We performed a meta-analysis to examine the effects of TC on exercise capacity and quality of life (QoL) in CHF patients.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched (up to May 2012) for relevant studies. Studies including participants with reduced left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction ≤ 45%) were selected. Interventions considered were TC with or without comparisons (education or usual care). Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I(2) test. Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (n = 242) met the inclusion criteria. TC significantly improved QoL (WMD -14.54 points; 95% CI -23.45 to -5.63). TC was not associated with a significant reduction in N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (WMD -61.16 pg/mL; 95% CI -179.27 to 56.95), systolic blood pressure (WMD -1.06 mmHg; 95% CI -13.76 to 11.63), diastolic blood pressure (WMD -0.08 mmHg; 95% CI -3.88 to 3.73), improved 6 min walking distance (WMD 46.73 m; 95% CI -1.62 to 95.09), or peak oxygen uptake (WMD 0.19 mL/kg/min; 95% CI -0.74 to 1.13).
CONCLUSIONS:
TC may improve QoL in patients with CHF and could be considered for inclusion in cardiac rehabilitation programmes. However, there is currently a lack of evidence to support TC altering other important clinical outcomes. Further larger RCTs are urgently needed to investigate the effects of TC.
AuthorsLei Pan, JunHong Yan, YongZhong Guo, JunHe Yan
JournalEuropean journal of heart failure (Eur J Heart Fail) Vol. 15 Issue 3 Pg. 316-23 (Mar 2013) ISSN: 1879-0844 [Electronic] England
PMID23099355 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis)
Topics
  • Aged
  • Chronic Disease
  • Exercise Tolerance
  • Female
  • Heart Failure (rehabilitation)
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Life
  • Tai Ji
  • Treatment Outcome

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