Evidence mapPaperPMID 41185702Full record

SynthesisPeerJ2025

Synergistic effects of virtual reality and traditional treatment methods in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Wei Qi, Feiyun Song, Mingli Li, Mingcong Xie, Dandan Liu, Fang Fang, Yueling Bao, Zhangjie Guo, Mingyun Sun

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PeerJ, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
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

9 authors.

Wei Qi *Sports Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Office of the School of Physical Education, Anqing Normal University, Anqing, Anhui, China.
Feiyun Song *Sports Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Office of the School of Physical Education, Anqing Normal University, Anqing, Anhui, China.
Mingli LiSports Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Office of the School of Physical Education, Anqing Normal University, Anqing, Anhui, China.
Mingcong XieSports Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Office of the School of Physical Education, Anqing Normal University, Anqing, Anhui, China.
Dandan LiuSports Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Office of the School of Physical Education, Anqing Normal University, Anqing, Anhui, China.
Fang FangSports Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Office of the School of Physical Education, Anqing Normal University, Anqing, Anhui, China.
Yueling BaoSports Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Office of the School of Physical Education, Anqing Normal University, Anqing, Anhui, China.
Zhangjie GuoDepartment of Common Basic, Anqing Medical College, Anqing, Anhui, China.
Mingyun SunSports Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Office of the School of Physical Education, Anqing Normal University, Anqing, Anhui, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: To systematically evaluate the synergistic effects of virtual reality (VR) combined with traditional therapies in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of VR combined with conventional therapy on lung function, exercise tolerance, quality of life, and mental health in patients with COPD. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed study quality. A meta-analysis was performed on the outcome measures. Results: Included 15 RCTs (eight from China, three from Poland, one from Turkey, one from Indonesia, and two from Italy), involving a total of 809 COPD patients (published between 2014 and 2024). All studies demonstrated significant improvements in at least one aspect (lung function, mental health, or quality of life). The meta-analysis showed that VR-based therapy significantly improved the 6-min walk test (6MWT), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1/FVC), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). High heterogeneity was observed for FEV1% predicted, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC); subgroup analyses suggested that intervention duration and single-session duration were potential contributing factors. Conclusion: VR combined with traditional therapy has significant advantages over traditional therapy alone, with synergistic effects that can improve lung function and exercise endurance in COPD patients, alleviate psychological problems such as anxiety and depression, and enhance quality of life. Although the effects are significant, future research is needed to verify its clinical relevance (

Indexed as

Pulmonary Disease, Chronic ObstructiveVirtual RealityExercise ToleranceHumansQuality of LifeRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicCOPDSynergy effectTraditional treatment methodsVR

Identifiers

PMID41185702
PMCPMC12579849

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.