Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40133870›Full record

SynthesisBMC cardiovascular disorders2025

Impact of exercise training on exercise tolerance, cardiac function and quality of life in individuals with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hu Li, Yingxue Liu, Yu Liu, Zhichao Xu, Pengchao Pan, Lijun Zeng

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC cardiovascular disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Prognostic value of exercise blood pressure: role of fitness and exercise training.American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Hu Li *Department of Cardiology, The First Naval Hospital, Southern Theater Command of PLA, No.10 Haibin Avenue Middle, Zhanjiang, 524005, China. lihu@medmail.com.cn.
Yingxue Liu *Outpatient Department, The First Naval Hospital, Southern Theater Command of PLA, Zhanjiang, 524005, China.
Yu LiuDepartment of Cardiology, The First Naval Hospital, Southern Theater Command of PLA, No.10 Haibin Avenue Middle, Zhanjiang, 524005, China.
Zhichao XuDepartment of Cardiology, The First Naval Hospital, Southern Theater Command of PLA, No.10 Haibin Avenue Middle, Zhanjiang, 524005, China.
Pengchao PanDepartment of Cardiology, The First Naval Hospital, Southern Theater Command of PLA, No.10 Haibin Avenue Middle, Zhanjiang, 524005, China.
Lijun ZengDepartment of Cardiology, The First Naval Hospital, Southern Theater Command of PLA, No.10 Haibin Avenue Middle, Zhanjiang, 524005, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHeart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is increasingly prevalent and poses significant treatment challenges due to its complex pathophysiology. Exercise training has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention to improve outcomes in HFpEF patients. This study aims to evaluate the effect of exercise training on exercise tolerance, cardiac function and quality of life in HFpEF patients.

methodThrough systematic review and meta-analysis, major databases were scoured for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the influence of exercise training on HFpEF patients. Data on exercise tolerance, cardiac function parameters, and quality of life were extracted. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool. Statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.4, with mean differences (MD) or standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) calculated for continuous variables.

resultsSeven RCTs encompassing 470 participants met the inclusion criteria. Exercise training significantly improved exercise tolerance as measured by the 6-Minute Walk Test (P < 0.01) and peak VO₂ (P = 0.03). No significant effects were observed on cardiac function parameters, including the E/A ratio, E/e' ratio, and LVEF. Total quality of life was similar between exercise and control groups, but significantly enhanced in physical components about quality of life was observed in the exercise group (P = 0.03). There were no significant differences between high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate continuous training (MCT) in improving exercise tolerance, cardiac function, or quality of life.

conclusionExercise training effectively enhances exercise tolerance and physical quality of life in patients with HFpEF, without significantly impacting cardiac function parameters. HIIT and MCT has similar effect in HFpEF patients. These findings support the incorporation of exercise training into the management strategies for HFpEF patients to improve functional outcomes and quality of life.

Indexed as

Exercise TherapyExercise ToleranceHeart FailureQuality of LifeStroke VolumeVentricular Function, LeftAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRecovery of FunctionTreatment OutcomeCardiac functionExercise trainingHeart failure with preserved ejection fractionMeta-analysisQuality of life

Identifiers

PMID40133870
PMCPMC11934615

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.