A2 Review article, Literature review, Systematic review
Exercise type and settings, quality of life, and mental health in coronary artery disease : a network meta-analysis (2025)


Toval, A., Bakker, E. A., Granada-Maia, J. B., Núñez de Arenas-Arroyo, S., Solis-Urra, P., Eijsvogels, T. M. H., Esteban-Cornejo, I., Martínez-Vizcaíno, V., & Ortega, F. B. (2025). Exercise type and settings, quality of life, and mental health in coronary artery disease : a network meta-analysis. European Heart Journal, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehae870


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editorsToval, Angel; Bakker, Esmée A.; Granada-Maia, Joao Bruno; Núñez de Arenas-Arroyo, Sergio; Solis-Urra, Patricio; Eijsvogels, Thijs M. H.; Esteban-Cornejo, Irene; Martínez-Vizcaíno, Vicente; Ortega, Francisco B.

Journal or seriesEuropean Heart Journal

ISSN0195-668X

eISSN1522-9645

Publication year2025

Publication date15/01/2025

VolumeEarly online

PublisherOxford University Press

Publication countryUnited Kingdom

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehae870

Publication open accessOpenly available

Publication channel open accessPartially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX)https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/99769


Abstract

Background and aims: Individuals with coronary artery disease have poorer mental health, health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), and cognition compared with (age-matched) controls. Exercise training may attenuate these effects. The aim is to systematically review and meta-analyse the effects of different exercise types and settings on brain structure/function, cognition, HR-QoL, mental health (e.g. depression, anxiety), and sleep in patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted and a network meta-analysis compared (i) exercise types, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), HIIT + resistance (HIIT + R), moderate-intensity training (MIT), MIT + R and stretching-toning-balance training, and (ii) exercise settings, in-person and home-based.

Results: A total of 42 randomized controlled trials with a parallel group design were identified, of which 36 were included in the meta-analysis. Few studies included cognition (n = 2), sleep (n = 2), and none brain structure/function (n = 0). Most studies examined HR-QoL (n = 30), depression (n = 15), and anxiety (n = 9), in which outcomes were meta-analysed. HIIT + R, HIIT, and MIT were associated with improved HR-QoL vs. no exercise (i.e. usual care) [standardized mean difference, SMD: 1.53 (95% confidence interval 0.83; 2.24), 0.44 (0.15; 0.73), and 0.44 (0.20; 0.67), respectively]. In-person exercise was associated with larger and significant improvements [HR-QoL SMD: 0.51 (0.28; 0.74), depressive SMD: -0.55 (-1.03; -0.07), and anxiety symptoms SMD: -1.16 (-2.05; -0.26)] compared with no exercise, whereas home-based programmes were not significantly associated with improvements in these outcomes. Findings were robust in secondary (i.e. intervention duration and volume) and sensitivity analyses excluding high risk of bias studies.

Conclusions: Exercise training, especially in-person sessions, was associated with improved HR-QoL, depression and anxiety, independently of exercise type. However, this study raises concern about the effectiveness of home-based programmes in improving these outcomes.Study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42023402569).


Keywordsbraincardiovascular diseasescoronary artery diseaseaerobic trainingtrainingcerebrovascular disordersmental well-beingquality of life

Free keywordsbrain; cardiovascular disease; cognition; coronary heart disease; exercise; ischaemic disease; mental health


Contributing organizations


Ministry reportingYes

VIRTA submission year2025

Preliminary JUFO rating3


Last updated on 2025-08-02 at 20:05