Effect of aerobic and resistance training on body composition, functional capacity, and quality of life in patients with liver cirrhosis: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Evaluate the effects of resistance and aerobic training on the quality of life (QoL), functional capacity, and body composition of patients with liver cirrhosis. Studies published in the MEDLINE database via PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were analyzed. Patients with liver cirrhosis who performed aerobic or resistance exercises in the experimental group and controlled and randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included, whereas publications with only abstracts, control groups that performed aerobic and/or resistance training, and studies that included cointervention in the experimental and control procedures were excluded. Study variables were QoL, VO2peak, body mass index (BMI), distance covered in the 6-minute walk test (6 MWT), and thigh circumference. PRISMA systematization was used to prepare this review. Six RCTs were included in this review, including 244 participants aged 53-63 years with Child-Pugh stages A, B, or C, and mostly men. With QoL as a continuous variable, the difference in standardized means was 0.36 [0.01 - 0.76]; p = 0.04 for studies that performed resistance training. With 6 MWT as a continuous variable, significant improvement was seen after resistance and aerobic training, and the difference in means was 49.39 [16.53 - 82.24]; p = 0.03. No difference was observed after performing aerobic and resistance exercises in relation to VO2peak, thigh circumference, or BMI (p > 0.05). Certainty of evidence assessed by the GRADE was between very low and moderate. Aerobic and resistance physical training appear to improve the QoL and functional capacity without changing body composition in patients with liver cirrhosis.