OBJECTIVE: To carry out a systematic review of the effect of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and its components on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with stable angina. METHODS: We searched the databases including Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and EBSCO CINAHL from their inception up to November 1, 2017. The search was not restricted to time or publication status but was limited to the English language. Two independent investigators screened the identified studies and extracted the data in duplicate. We reviewed the included studies and, where possible, pooled their results and conducted meta-analyses. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane Collaboration tools. RESULTS: The search identified 7,508 studies. Ten randomized trials including 4,005 participants with the mean (SD) age of 59.6 (5.7) years were considered eligible for inclusion in our analyses. The results of meta-analyses of exercise-based CR for patients with stable angina revealed that CR improved exercise capacity (the difference between baseline and follow-up was 0.76 watt (0.49 to 1.02) higher in the CR group versus the non-CR group) and decreased angina frequency (standard mean difference -0.27 (CI -0.43 to 0.11)). No significant differences were noted in other outcomes, including quality of life. Mortality could not be adequately assessed because it was analyzed in only 1 exercise-based CR study. CONCLUSION: Our systematic review, involving a relatively small number of studies with low to moderate risk of bias and with considerable heterogeneity, found a significant decrease in angina frequency and increase in exercise capacity in patients with stable angina who participated in an exercise-based CR program. Studies involving the impact of components of CR are limited and generally report beneficial outcomes. Additional studies are needed to clarify the possible role of CR in the management of patients with stable angina.

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