Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Pooled Efficacy and Exploration of Effect Modifiers of Exercise Prehabilitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-regression Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors' conclusion
Exercise prehabilitation may reduce complications and LoS
Study context
- Population
- Adults (≥18 years) undergoing major elective surgery
- Participants
- 8,222 adults · 99 trials
- Comparison
- Exercise prehabilitation vs control
- Outcome
- Postoperative complications and postoperative LOS (critical outcomes)
Methodological detailsrandom effects pairwise meta-analyses, effect modifiers identified a priori
- Random effects pairwise meta-analyses
- Effect modifiers identified a priori
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Exercise prehabilitation vs ControlOdds ratio (95% CI)P value
Complications; I2 = 45%; moderate certainty
0.54(0.44–0.67)
P < 0.01Exercise prehabilitation vs ControlMean difference, days (95% CI)P value
LOS; I2 = 78%; low certainty
−0.90(−1.23 to −0.58)
P < 0.01Further pooled results
Effect modifier: inspiratory muscle training, complications
| OR (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Inspiratory muscle trainingLow certainty | 0.65 (0.44–0.97) | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (log scale) |
Effect modifier: inspiratory muscle training, LOS
| MD (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Inspiratory muscle trainingLow certainty | −1.04 (−1.75 to −0.32) | |
| −2−101Difference (linear scale) |
Other prespecified procedural, participant or program effect modifiers
- No other consistent or credible effect modifiers
Original publication
Pooled Efficacy and Exploration of Effect Modifiers of Exercise Prehabilitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-regression Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Anesth Analg. Published 16 December 2025. doi:10.
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