Effects of exercise interventions on functioning and health-related quality of life following hospital discharge for recovery from critical illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to analyze the published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effects of exercise interventions on functioning and health-related quality of life following hospital discharge for recovery from critical illness. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. DATA SOURCES: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PEDro data base, and SciELO (from the earliest date available to January 2023) for RCTs that evaluated the effects of physical rehabilitation interventions following hospital discharge for recovery from critical illness. REVIEW METHODS: Study quality was evaluated using the PEDro Scale. Mean differences (MDs), standard MDs (SMD), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: Fourteen studies met the study criteria, including 1259 patients. Exercise interventions improved aerobic capacity SMD 0.2 (95% CI: 0.03-0.3, I2 = 0% N = 880, nine studies, high-quality evidence), and physical component score of health-related quality of life MD 3.3 (95% CI: 1.0-5.6, I2 = 57%, six studies N = 669, moderate-quality evidence). In addition, a significant reduction in depression was observed MD -1.4 (95% CI: -2.7 to -0.1, I2 = 0% N = 148, three studies, moderate-quality evidence). No serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: Exercise intervention was associated with improvement of aerobic capacity, depression, and physical component score of health-related quality of life after hospital discharge for survivors of critical illness.

Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on exercise capacity, muscle strength and quality of life in COPD patients: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on disabilities and activity limitation of individuals affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, PEDro database, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and SciELO, were searched from inception until October 2021. REVIEW METHODS: Inclusion criteria were patients with COPD, randomized controlled trials comparing neuromuscular electrical stimulation alone or combined conventional pulmonary rehabilitation and neuromuscular electrical stimulation versus control or sham or pulmonary rehabilitation in disabilities and activity limitation in COPD. There were no mandatory language or publication date restrictions. Two reviewers selected studies independently. Weighted mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results 32 studies met the study criteria, including 1.269 participants. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation improved exercise capacity (MD 1.10, 95% CI: 0.33, 1.86, N = 147), and muscle strength (0.53, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.87, N = 147) compared to sham group. Combined neuromuscular electrical stimulation and conventional rehabilitation improved exercise capacity (MD 34.28 meters, 95% CI: 6.84, 61.73, N = 262) compared to conventional rehabilitation alone. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation resulted in small improvement in disabilities and activity limitation (below the MCID) in COPD. Thus, the inclusion of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in rehabilitation programs must consider the cost Because of inadequate methodological conduction and reporting of methods, some studies were of low quality.

A systematic review on physical function, activities of daily living and health-related quality of life in COVID-19 survivors.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the published studies that investigated the physical function, activities of daily living and health-related quality of life in COVID-19 survivors. DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, and Cochrane Library for studies that evaluated the physical function, activities of daily living and health-related quality of life after COVID-19 from the earliest date available to July 2021. Two independent reviewers screened and selected the studies. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate methodological quality. RESULTS: We included 35 studies in this systematic review. Of the 35 studies included, 28 were cohort, and 7 cross-sectional studies The studies demonstrated that COVID-19 survivors had reduced levels of physical function, activities of daily living, and health-related quality of life. Furthermore, incomplete recovery of physical function, and performance in activities of daily living were observed 1 to 6 months post-infection. DISCUSSION: Physical disability and reduction in health-related quality of life is a common condition in post-COVID-19 and impairments may persist up to 1 to 6 months. Researchers and clinicians can use these findings to understand the potential disabilities and rehabilitation needs of people recovering from the COVID-19.

Effects of ventilator hyperinflation on pulmonary function and secretion clearance in adults receiving mechanical ventilation: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: It is important to clarify the effect of ventilator hyperinflation(VHI) on pulmonary function and secretion clearance in adults receiving mechanical ventilation(MV). There is no published meta-analysis on the effects VHI on pulmonary function and secretion clearance in adults receiving MV. Objective Analyze the published randomized clinical trials(RCTs) that investigated the effects of VHI on pulmonary function and secretion clearance in adults receiving MV, comparing VHI with isolated aspiration, VHI with manual hyperinflation(MHI), VHI +vibrocompression(VB) versus VB and VHI+VB versus isolated aspiration. METHODS: The following databases PubMed, LILACS, EMBASE, SciELO, PEDro database and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were consulted up to December 2021. Secretion clearance, static and dynamic compliance of the respiratory system(Cstat and Cdyn), airway resistance(Raw) and oxygenation outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirteen studies met the study criteria, but only 12 studies were included on meta-analysis. There was no difference between VHI versus isolated aspiration for amount of secretions removed(0.41 SMD; 95% CI: -0.08 to 0.89; n=270), VHI versus MHI(0.51 grams; 95% CI: -0.08 to 1.11; n=256), VHI+VB versus VB(0.31 grams; 95% CI: -0.42 to 1.05; n=130) and VHI+VB versus isolated aspiration(0.54 grams; 95% CI: -0.06 to 1.14; n=132). There was difference for VHI versus isolated aspiration to Cstat (4.77 ml/cm H2O; 95% CI: 2.41 to 7.14; n= 136). CONCLUSION: Taking into account all studies included in meta-analysis, no evidences was found that VHI was effective in increasing the amount of secretions removed, Cdyn and oxygenation, but VHI seems to show a slight improvement in Cstat when compared to isolated aspiration. No evidence was found that VHI was effective in increasing the amount of secretions removed, Cdyn and oxygenation, but VHI seems to show a slight improvement in Cstat when compared to isolated aspiration.

Ultrasound Protocols to Assess Skeletal and Diaphragmatic Muscle in People Who Are Critically Ill: A Systematic Review.

This study aims to review published studies that use protocols and ultrasound measurements to evaluate skeletal and diaphragmatic muscles in patients who are critically ill. We searched for references on databases through September 2020 and included in our systematic review studies that used muscular ultrasound to assess skeletal or diaphragm muscles in patients who are critically ill. Seventy-six studies were included, 32 (1720 patients) using skeletal-muscle ultrasound and 44 (2946 patients) using diaphragmatic-muscle ultrasound, with a total of 4666 patients. The population is predominantly adult men. As for designs, most studies (n = 62) were cohort studies. B-mode B was dominant in the evaluations. Medium-to-high frequency bands were used in the analysis of peripheral muscles and medium-to-low frequency bands for diaphragmatic muscles. Evaluation of the echogenicity, muscle thickness and pennation angle of the muscle was also reported. These variables are important in the composition of the diagnosis of muscle loss. Studies demonstrate great variability in their protocols, and sparse description of the important variables that can directly interfere with the quality and validity of these measures. Therefore, a document is needed that standardizes these parameters for ultrasound assessment in patients who are critically ill.

Evaluation of the description of active mobilisation protocols for mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The complete description of exercise interventions is essential to allow for the replication of clinical trials and to the correct application in clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this review was to evaluate of the description of the active mobilisation protocols in patients on invasive mechanical ventilation at intensive care units (ICU). METHODS: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) using the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template. RESULTS: We identified 16 RCTs (n = 1,850). None sufficiently described the intervention for all items required for replication. The frequency, intensity, time, volume, and progression of active mobilisation as well as other important components of the intervention such as the instructor's qualifications/expertise, the types and incidence of adverse events, and the adherence to the exercise intervention were not adequately reported. CONCLUSION: Active mobilisation interventions were only incompletely described in RCTs, which can compromise replication in both, clinical and research settings. REGISTRATION: PROSPRERO (CRD42017068762).