Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42376039›Full record

SynthesisPeerJ2026

Effects of cardiac rehabilitation on atrial fibrillation recurrence, mortality, hospitalization, and exercise capacity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ting Shen, Cheng Shi, Guanghe Li, Yumei Jiang, Dejie Li, Lei Qian, Congying Ma, Guangyu Wang, Liang Zheng, Yuqin Shen

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PeerJ, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

10 authors.

Ting Shen *Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Cheng Shi *School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Guanghe LiDepartment of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Yumei JiangDepartment of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Dejie LiDepartment of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Lei QianDepartment of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Congying MaSchool of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Guangyu WangDepartment of Endocrinology, Putuo People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Liang ZhengState Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases and Medical Innovation Center, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Yuqin ShenDepartment of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) may benefit patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in areas such as exercise capacity. However, evidence regarding its impact on AF recurrence, a key clinical outcome, remains inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to evaluate the effects of CR on AF recurrence, all-cause mortality, hospitalization, and exercise capacity in patients with AF. Methods: We systematically searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase from January 1, 1980, to April 20, 2026. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. A total of 1,550 patients from 11 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis based on the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Pooled analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in AF recurrence among patients receiving CR compared with controls (risk ratio (RR) 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.67-0.89], Conclusions: CR is associated with a reduction in AF recurrence in the overall AF population, though this benefit was not observed in the exploratory subgroup of patients post-ablation. It significantly improves exercise capacity but does not appear to affect mortality or hospitalization rates. Further high-quality randomized trials are needed to evaluate the benefits and potential risks of CR across different types of AF.

Indexed as

Atrial FibrillationCardiac RehabilitationExercise ToleranceHospitalizationHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRecurrenceAtrial fibrillationCardiac rehabilitationHospitalizationMeta-analysisMortality

Identifiers

PMID42376039
PMCPMC13312971

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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 OpenQuestion graph.