BACKGROUND: The beneficial effects of exercise training-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in different cardiac conditions have been previously studied. In this meta-analysis, we focused on the potential impact of CR on patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). METHODS: Multiple databases were searched in a systematic approach to find the eligible studies. All the studies investigating the potential impact of exercise training-based CR programmes on exercise capacity and health-related quality of life in patients undergoing TAVI were retrieved. The primary endpoint of interest was 6-min walk test (6MWT). The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were measured to compare the improvement or worsening the endpoints using a random- or fixed-effects model, as appropriate. RESULTS: A total of eleven studies (685 patients) were considered eligible for quantitative synthesis. The results showed that performing exercise training-based CR after TAVI is associated with significant improvement in 6MWT (SMD 0.59, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.71, p < 0.01), Barthel Index (SMD 0.73, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.89, p < 0.01), 12-item Short Form (SF-12) physical (SMD 0.30, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.52), p < 0.01) and mental (SMD 0.27, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.49, p = 0.02) survey scores, and hospital anxiety and depression scale -- depression (HADS-D) score (SMD -0.26, 95% CI -0.42 to -0.10), p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Performing exercise training-based CR following TAVI has significant benefits regarding physical capacity and health-related quality of life irrespective of the programme duration.

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