Exercise training significantly improved cardiac autonomic function in patients following coronary artery bypass grafting, including an increase in the standard deviation of R-R intervals (SMD 0.44).
Meta-Analysis (n=620)
Does exercise training improve heart rate variability and heart rate recovery in adult patients following coronary artery bypass grafting?
Exercise training following CABG significantly improves cardiac autonomic function, as evidenced by favorable changes in heart rate variability and heart rate recovery.
Effect estimate: SMD 0.44 (95% CI 0.17-0.71)
p-value: p=0.002
BACKGROUND: Exercise training improves cardiac autonomic function is still debatable in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The aim of the present review is to assess the effect of exercise on CABG patient's heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate recovery (HRR) parameters. MAIN BODY: Databases (PubMed, Web of Science and PEDro) were accessed for systematic search from inception till May 2022. Eleven potential studies were qualitatively analyzed by using PEDro and eight studies were included in the quantitative synthesis. Meta-analysis was conducted by using a random-effect model, inverse-variance approach through which standardized mean differences (SMDs) were estimated. The analysis of pooled data showed that exercise training improved HRV indices of standard deviation of the R-R intervals (SDNN) SMD 0.44, 95% CI 0.17, 0.71, p = 0.002, square root of the mean squared differences between adjacent R-R intervals (RMSSD) SMD 0.68, 95% CI 0.28, 1.08, p = 0.0008, high frequency (HF) SMD 0.58, 95% CI 0.18, 0.98, p = 0.005 and low frequency-to-high frequency (LF/HF) ratio SMD - 0.34, 95% CI - 0.65, - 0.02, p = 0.03. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise training enhances cardiac autonomic function in CABG patients. Owing to the methodological inconsistencies in assessing HRV, the precise effect on autonomic function still remains conflicted. Future high-quality trials are needed focusing on precise methodological approach and incorporation of various types of exercise training interventions will give clarity regarding autonomic adaptations post-exercise training in CABG. Trial registration CRD42021230270 , February 19, 2021.
Kushwaha et al. (Thu,) conducted a meta-analysis in Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (n=620). Exercise training vs. Usual care, breathing exercises, or no exercise was evaluated on Standard deviation of the R-R intervals (SDNN) (SMD 0.44, 95% CI 0.17-0.71, p=0.002). Exercise training significantly improved cardiac autonomic function in patients following coronary artery bypass grafting, including an increase in the standard deviation of R-R intervals (SMD 0.44).