Background 

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation is safe and effective for adults with chronic heart failure (CHF), yet services are greatly underutilized. However, tai chi is a popular and safe form of exercise among older adults with chronic health conditions.

Objective 

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine the benefits of tai chi exercise among persons with CHF.

Methods 

An electronic literature search of 10 databases (Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, OpenGrey, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) was conducted from January 1, 2004, to August 1, 2019. Clinical trials that examined tai chi exercise, were published in English or German languages, and conducted among participants with CHF were included. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 2.0 software (Biostat, Inc) was used to calculate effect sizes (ie, Hedges g) and 95% confidence intervals using random effects models.

Results 

A total of 6 studies met the inclusion criteria, enrolling 229 participants (mean age, 68 years; 28% women; mean ejection fraction = 37%). At least 3 studies reported outcomes for exercise capacity (n = 5 studies), quality of life (n = 5 studies), depression (n = 4 studies), and b-type natriuretic peptide (n = 4 studies), allowing for meta-analysis. Compared with controls, tai chi participants had significantly better exercise capacity (g = 0.353; P = .026, I² = 32.72%), improved quality of life (g = 0.617; P = .000, I² = 0%), with less depression (g = 0.627; P = .000, I² = 0%), and decreased b-type natriuretic peptide expression (g = 0.333; P = .016, I² = 0%).

Conclusion 

Tai chi can be easily integrated into existing cardiac rehabilitation programs. Further research is needed with rigorous study designs and larger samples before widespread recommendations can be made.

中文翻译：

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太极拳运动对成年人慢性心力衰竭的益处：系统评价和荟萃分析

背景 

对于患有慢性心力衰竭（CHF）的成年人，基于运动的心脏康复是安全有效的，但服务利用率却很低。但是，太极拳是患有慢性健康状况的老年人中一种流行且安全的运动方式。

目的 

进行了系统的回顾和荟萃分析，以研究太极拳锻炼对CHF患者的益处。

方法 

从2004年1月1日开始，对10个数据库（相关和补充医学数据库，护理和相关健康文献的累积索引，Embase，OpenGrey，PsycARTICLES，PsycINFO，PubMed，Scopus，SPORTDiscus和Web of Science）进行了电子文献搜索，至2019年8月1日。包括对太极拳锻炼进行了临床试验，以英语或德语出版，并在CHF参与者中进行。使用综合效应分析2.0版软件（Biostat，Inc）使用随机效应模型计算效应量（即Hedges g）和95％置信区间。

结果 

共有6项研究符合纳入标准，招募229名参与者（平均年龄68岁；女性28％；平均射血分数= 37％）。至少3个研究报告了运动能力的结果（N = 5项研究），生活质量（N = 5项研究），抑郁症（N = 4项研究），和B型利钠肽（n = 4项的研究），允许元分析。与对照组相比，太极拳参与者的运动能力明显更好（g = 0.353；P = .026，I ² = 32.72％），生活质量得到改善（g = 0.617；P = .000，I ² = 0％），用更少的抑郁（g = 0.627; P = .000，I ² = 0％）和b型利钠肽表达降低（g = 0.333; P = .016，I ² = 0％）。

结论 

太极拳可以轻松地整合到现有的心脏康复计划中。在提出广泛建议之前，需要通过严格的研究设计和更大的样本进行进一步的研究。