SynthesisJournal of medical Internet research2025
Effectiveness of Virtual Reality-Complemented Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Lung Function, Exercise Capacity, Dyspnea, and Health Status in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in Journal of medical Internet research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effects of Virtual Reality Interventions on Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2026Pooled it
- Comparative efficacy of different digital health intervention modalities versus traditional pulmonary rehabilitation on daily step counts and exercise capacity in patients with COPD: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
- Using Virtual Reality to Enhance Surgical Skills and Engagement in Orthopedic Education: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- Effects of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function, exercise capacity, and quality of life in chronic stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in physiology · 2025Pooled it
- Who Enrolls After Referral to Virtual Pulmonary Rehabilitation? A Descriptive Comparison.Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (Miami, Fla.) · 2026Article
- Global trends and research hotspots in pulmonary rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a bibliometric analysis (2000-2024).Journal of thoracic disease · 2026Article
- Effect of Motion-Controlled Video Games-Based Virtual Reality Exercise on Patients with Post-COVID-19 Condition: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Research Trends in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (2005-2024): From Drug Therapy to Comprehensive Rehabilitation Strategies.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory condition characterized by persistent airflow obstruction. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a cornerstone of COPD management but remains underutilized due to barriers such as low motivation and accessibility issues. Virtual reality (VR)-complemented PR offers a novel approach to overcoming these barriers by enhancing patient engagement and rehabilitation outcomes.
objectiveThis review aims to evaluate the effect of VR-complemented PR compared with comparators on lung function, exercise capacity, dyspnea, health status, and oxygenation in patients with COPD. Additionally, the study aimed to identify which comparator type (active exercise vs nonactive exercise control group) and intervention duration would result in the greatest improvements in rehabilitation outcomes. The study also assessed patient-reported experience measures, including acceptability and engagement.
methodsA comprehensive search of 11 international and Chinese databases identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to November 2024. Data were analyzed using RevMan 5.4, with pooled effect sizes reported as mean differences (MDs) and 95% CIs.
resultsA total of 16 RCTs involving 1052 participants were included. VR-complemented PR significantly improved lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] [L], MD 0.25, P<.001; FEV1/forced vital capacity [FVC], MD 6.12, P<.001; FVC, MD 0.28, P<.001) compared with comparators. Exercise capacity, assessed by the 6MWD, significantly improved (MD 23.49, P<.001) compared with comparators; however, it did not reach the minimally clinically important difference of 26 m, indicating limited clinical significance despite statistical significance. VR-complemented PR also significantly reduced dyspnea measured by the modified British Medical Research Council scale (MD -0.28, P<.001), improved health status measured by the COPD Assessment Test (MD -2.95, P<.001), and enhanced oxygenation status measured by SpO2 (MD 1.35, P=.04) compared with comparators. Subgroup analyses revealed that VR-complemented PR had a significantly greater effect on FEV1 (L) (MD 0.32, P=.005) and 6MWD (MD 40.93, P<.001) compared with the nonactive exercise control group. Additionally, VR-complemented PR showed a greater improvement in FEV1/FVC (MD 6.15, P<.001) compared with the active exercise control group. Intervention duration influenced outcomes, with 5-12-week programs showing the greatest improvement in 6MWD (MD 38.96, P<.001). VR-complemented PR was well-accepted, with higher adherence and engagement rates than comparators.
conclusionsVR-complemented PR significantly improves lung function, exercise capacity, dyspnea, health status, and oxygenation in patients with COPD compared with comparators, while enhancing adherence and engagement. Subgroup analyses showed greater effects on FEV1 (L) and 6MWD compared with the nonactive exercise control group, and a larger improvement in FEV1/FVC compared with the active exercise control group. Interventions (5-12 weeks) yielded the most significant benefits in exercise capacity. These findings highlight VR as a promising adjunct to traditional PR, with future research focusing on long-term outcomes and standardized protocols.
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Registered trials
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.