Table 2. Grade Rating of Studies.
| Outcomes | Randomized clinical trials, No. | Participants, No. | Effect size estimate, (95% CrI) | Certainty of evidence (GRADE)a | Reason for downgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Functional exercise capacity (6MWT) | 7 | 389 | −0.56 (−0.87 to −0.22)b | Moderate | Downgraded for high risk of bias |
| Functional leg strength and endurance (STS) | 4 | 371 | −0.77 (−1.94 to 0.44)b | Very low | Downgraded for high risk of bias and imprecision |
| Dyspnea | 8 | 573 | −1.00 (−1.94 to −0.10)b | Low | Downgraded for high risk of bias and inconsistency |
| Respiratory function (FEV1, %) | 6 | 363 | −0.16 (−0.42 to 0.11)b | Low | Downgraded for high risk of bias and indirectness |
| Respiratory function (FVC, %) | 6 | 363 | −0.13 (−0.38 to 0.12)b | Low | Downgraded for high risk of bias and indirectness |
| Quality of life (overall) | 5 | 366 | −0.41 (−0.73 to −0.06)b | Moderate | Downgraded for high risk of bias |
| Quality of life (mental health) | 5 | 568 | −0.18 (−0.39 to 0.04)b | Moderate | Downgraded for high risk of bias |
| Quality of life (physical health) | 4 | 444 | −0.40 (−0.74 to −0.12)b | Moderate | Downgraded for high risk of bias |
| Adverse events | 5 | 544 | 1.68 (0.32 to 9.94)c | Low | Downgraded for high risk of bias |
Abbreviations: 6MWT, 6-minute-walking-test; CrI, credible interval; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in the first second; FVC, forced vital capacity; GRADE, grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluations; STS, sit-to-stand test.
The certainty of evidence was rated using the GRADE system, with a rating of high indicating we are very confident that the true effect lies close to the effect size estimate; moderate indicating we are moderately confident in the effect size estimate and that the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of effect size, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different; low indicating our confidence in the effect size estimate is limited and that the true effect may be substantially different from the size estimate of effect; and very low indicating we have very little confidence in the effect size estimate and that the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the size estimate of effect.
Reported as a standardized mean difference.
Reported as an odds ratio.