A Network Meta-Analysis of Aerobic, Resistance, Endurance, and High-Intensity Interval Training to Prioritize Exercise for Stable COPD

Purpose: While the benefits of exercises for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are well-established, the relative effectiveness of different exercise types for stable COPD remains unclear. This network meta-analysis aims to investigate the comparative effects of aerobic exercise (AE), resistance training (RT), endurance training (ET), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in stable COPD.
Methods: Electronic searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of exercises on 6-minute walk test distance (6MWD), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and forced vital capacity (FVC), and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score. Two authors screened the retrieved articles, extracted relevant data, and assessed the risk of bias. Network meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 14.0.
Results: This study included a total of 19 studies involving 951 patients with stable COPD. HIIT emerged as the most favorable exercise type for enhancing 6MWD, with a probability of 82.9%. RT exhibited the greatest efficacy in reducing SGRQ scores, with probability of 49.8%. Notably, ET demonstrated superiority in improving FEV1 and FVC, with probabilities of being most effective at 78.1% and 42.0%, respectively.
Conclusion: This study suggests that HIIT may be a viable intervention for improving exercise capacity in stable COPD patients, compared to AE, RR, and ET. RT may hold promise for improving quality of life, and ET may demonstrate superiority in improving pulmonary function. However, variation in response likely depends on patient characteristics, program parameters, and delivery context. Future research should explore the synergistic effects of combining RT with ET/HIIT, focusing on patient subgroups, optimal dosing, and settings, as current guidelines indicate this combination may offer the most significant benefits.

Keywords: COPD, exercise, pulmonary function, quality of life, network meta-analysis