Exercise referral schemes increase Patients' cardiorespiratory Endurance: A systematic review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: The efficacy of exercise referral schemes (ERS) involving primary care providers to an exercise specialist on patients' physical activity is uncertain and primarily based on self-report outcomes. Cardiorespiratory endurance carries clinically relevant information and is an objective outcome measure that has been used to evaluate ERS, but this literature has not been amalgamated. We determined the effectiveness of ERS involving qualified exercise professionals (QEPs) on patients' cardiorespiratory endurance.

Methods: A systematic review with between-group and within-group meta-analyses was performed to examine the effects of ERS on cardiorespiratory endurance. We searched Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Academic Search Premier databases from their inception to February 2023 to find ERS interventions (randomized/non-randomized, controlled/non-controlled). To be included, studies required an adult patient referral from a primary care provider to a QEP.

Results: Twenty-nine articles comprising 6326 (3684 females) unique patients were included. Patients were primarily older (62 ± 9 years; range: 48-82) and overweight (body mass index: 28.9 ± 7.5 kg/m²; range: 22.5-37.1). Improvements in patients' cardiorespiratory endurance were observed in 20 of the 29 studies. Among controlled studies (n = 14), the meta-analysis exhibited a favorable effect on cardiorespiratory endurance between the intervention and the comparator groups (Hedge's g: 0.31, 95 % CI: 0.09 to 0.52). The ERS interventions also improved cardiorespiratory endurance when comparing pre- and post-intervention effects (all studies, Cohen's d: 0.57, 95 % CI: 0.45 to 0.69).

Conclusion: ERS that incorporate a QEP lead to improvements in patients' cardiorespiratory endurance, providing support for the creation of these programs to help patients lead healthier lifestyles.