TABLE 2

Quality of evidence for interventions used to modify physical activity levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Intervention [ref.]Studies nQuality assessmentQuality
Risk of biasInconsistencyIndirectnessImprecisionPublication bias
Physical activity counselling [10, 11, 25, 47,  51, 54, 55, 60, 70, 71, 78]11SeriousSeriousNot seriousSeriousStrongly suspectedVery low
Nutritional supplementation [12, 35, 36, 46]4SeriousSeriousNot seriousSeriousStrongly suspectedVery low
Long-term oxygen therapy [33, 64]2Not seriousSeriousNot seriousSeriousStrongly suspectedVery low
Bronchodilator [14, 48, 59, 67, 73, 77]6Not seriousSeriousNot seriousSeriousStrongly suspectedVery low
Nocturnal NIV [39]1SeriousNot seriousNot seriousSeriousStrongly suspectedVery low
NMES [38]1SeriousNot seriousNot seriousSeriousStrongly suspectedVery low
Pulmonary rehabilitation [8, 10, 29, 34, 37,  39, 42, 44, 49, 52, 56, 58, 62, 63, 65, 66,  69, 72, 74, 76]20SeriousSeriousNot seriousSeriousUnsuspectedVery low
Other exercise training [30, 32, 41, 43, 50,  53, 57, 61, 62, 74, 79]11SeriousSeriousNot seriousSeriousUnsuspectedVery low

  • NIV: noninvasive ventilation; NMES: neuromuscular electrical stimulation.