Open Access

REVIEW

Effects of inspiratory muscle training in chronic heart failure patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Jing Wu¹, Li Kuang¹, Lijuan Fu²

1 Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Nursing, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
2 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

* Corresponding Author: Lijuan Fu, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Dongfang Rd #1678, Pudong, Shanghai 200127, People’s Republic of China. Email:

Congenital Heart Disease 2018, 13(2), 194-202. https://doi.org/10.1111/chd.12586

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.
Design: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINHAL, and CBMdisc to collect controlled trials on the application of inspiratory muscle training in CHF patients from the establishment of these databases to November 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed the quality of literature. Meta-analysis was conducted by software RevMan5.3.
Results: Eight studies involving 302 patients were identified. Meta-analysis indicated that IMT significantly improved PI_max, V_E/VCO₂ slope and dyspnea (weighted mean difference [WMD] = 16.52, 95% CI: 13.87–19.17, P < .01; WMD = –5.78, 95% CI: –7.72 to –3.85, P < .01; SMD = –0.95, 95% CI: –1.5 to –0.39, P < .01), and descriptive results showed that long-term IMT (≥6 weeks) can improve the quality of life of CHF patients, and patients in IMT group also have a significant improvement in 6-minute walking distance test (6-MWD).
Conclusion: IMT can improve pulmonary function, exercise tolerance, and quality of life of CHF patients and relieve the symptom of dyspnea.

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Keywords

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