Prevention & lipidsMeta-analysis
Prehabilitation in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Procedures
- meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models
- Trials were screened by 2 reviewers
Authors' conclusion
Prehabilitation before cardiac procedures may enhance preprocedural functional capacity and postprocedural recovery, particularly in women. Further multicenter studies are needed.
Study context
- Population
- Cardiac patients undergoing cardiac procedures, in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing prehabilitation with standard care up to August 2024patients in 44 RCTs
- Participants
- 3,925 patients
- Comparison
- prehabilitation with standard care in cardiac patients
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
6-minute walk distance (preprocedural functional capacity)
MD
68.87 m
95% CI 12.76–124.98
P = 0.020
prehabilitation vs standard care
MD 68.87 m (95% CI 12.76–124.98); P = 0.020
Further pooled results
| Outcome | MD (days) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length of stay · 18 studies (n = 1,568); length of stay was shorter | −0.95 (−1.77 to −0.13) | P = 0.026 | |
| −2−101Difference, days (linear scale) |
| Outcome | MD (hours) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intensive care unit stay · 16 trials (n = 1,149); intensive care unit stay was reduced | −6.03 (−12.01 to −0.06) | P = 0.048 | |
| −15−10−505Difference, hours (linear scale) |
| Outcome | OR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postprocedural pneumonia · 5 studies (n = 729); occurred less frequently | 0.33 (0.15–0.72) | P = 0.017 | |
| 0.10.31310Odds ratio (log scale) |
- Length of stay: meta-regression showed greater effect in studies including more women (P = 0.015)
Heterogeneity and risk of bias
- The analysis revealed substantial heterogeneity and risk of bias
Specific components
- Analysis of specific components showed no consistent effects
Original publication
Prehabilitation in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Procedures. JACC Adv. Published 29 January 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102587
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it