Table 1.
Characteristics of Studies Included in the Meta‐Analysis
| Source and Location | Age (y) and Men (%) | Follow‐up (y) | Exercise and Recovery Protocol | HRR‐Phase (Minute) | Outcome Assessment | Covariates Adjusted | Study Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular events | |||||||
| Ho et al 20107; USA | 51.0; 70.2 | 7.2 | Modified Balke protocol (maximal workload); NS | 1 | Registry (for CVD death) | Age, sex, abnormal/equivocal ST segment response, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and current tobacco use | 9 |
| Mora et al 20038; USA | 46.3; 0 | 20 | Bruce protocol (maximal workload); No | 2 | Death certificates and medical records (for CVD death) | Age, current smoking, diabetes mellitus, family history of premature coronary heart disease, obesity, HDL‐C, LDL‐C, high TG, and hypertension | 9 |
| Morshedi‐Meibodi et al 20029; USA | 43.0; 47.2 | 15 | Bruce protocol (submaximal workload); No | 1/2 | Medical records (for CVD events) | Age, BMI, smoking, systolic and DBP, antihypertensive treatment, diabetes mellitus, TC, HDL‐C, resting HR and peak HR | 9 |
| Park et al 201510; USA | 55.0; 46.4 | 27 | NS (submaximal workload); NS | 2 | Death certificates (for Mis, and silent Mis) | Age, sex, TC, diabetes mellitus history, and smoking history | 9 |
| Newman et al 200611; USA | 73.5; 48 | 4.9 | 400‐m walk component (NS); NS | 2 | Death certificates and records (for CVD events) | Age and sex | 9 |
| All‐cause mortality | |||||||
| Ho et al 20107; USA | 51.0; 70.2 | 7.2 | Modified Balke protocol (maximal workload); NS | 1 | Registry | The other non‐ST segment exercise parameters, sex, abnormal/equivocal stress test, resting HR, presence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and current tobacco use | 9 |
| Mora et al 20038; USA | 46.3; 0 | 20 | Bruce protocol (maximal workload); No | 2 | Death certificates and medical records | Age, current smoking, diabetes mellitus, family history of premature coronary heart disease, obesity, HDL‐C, LDL‐C, high TG level, and hypertension | 9 |
| Morshedi‐Meibodi et al 20029; USA | 43.0; 47.2 | 15 | Bruce protocol (submaximal workload); No | 2 | Medical records | Age, BMI, smoking, systolic and DBP, antihypertensive treatment, diabetes mellitus, TC, HDL‐C, resting HR and peak HR | 9 |
| Newman et al 200611; USA | 73.5; 48 | 4.9 | 400‐m walk component (NS); NS | 2 | Death certificates and medical records | Age, sex, race, smoking history, pack‐years of smoking, SBP, TC, fasting glucose, BMI, physical activity, coronary heart disease, intermittent claudication, stroke, depression symptoms, ankle–brachial index, major ECG abnormalities, forced expiratory volume in first second/forced vital capacity, and use of digoxin, blockers, or calcium channel blockers | 9 |
| Aktas et al 200418; USA | 57.0; 80.8 | 8 | Bruce or modified Bruce protocol (symptom‐limited workload); Active recovery protocol | 1 | Registry | Diabetes mellitus, BMI, levels of TG and HDL‐C, black race, and use of medications including blockers, aspirin, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, nondihydropyridine calcium blockers, statins, and thiazide diuretics | 9 |
| Johnson et al 201219; USA | 55.0; 57.0 | 9.9 | Bruce protocol (maximal workload); No | 1 | Registry | Categorical analysis: none; Dose–response analysis: all variables except peak HR and late HRR | 8 |
| Savonen et al 201120; Finland | 51.0; 100 | 18 | NS (maximal workload); No | 1/2 | Registry | Categorical analysis: none; Dose–response analysis: age, alcohol consumption, BMI, cigarette smoking, plasma fibrinogen, serum LDL‐C, resting SBP and serum CRP, chronotropic incompetence | 9 |
| Wandell et al 2010—Men21; Sweden | 37.6; 100 | 26 | NS (maximal workload); No | 1 | Registry | Age, high HR, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, BMI, smoking, physical fitness and care need group | 8 |
| Wandell et al 2010—Women21; Sweden | 33.0; 0 | 26 | NS (maximal workload); No | 1 | Registry | Age, high HR, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, BMI, smoking, physical fitness and care need group | 8 |
CRP indicates C‐reactive protein; CVD, cardiovascular diseases; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; HDL‐C, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol; HR, heart rate; HRR, heart rate recovery; LDL‐C, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol; Mis, myocardial ischemia; NS, not specified; SBP, systolic blood pressure; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglyceride.