Summary of findings 3. Aerobic exercise compared to no training for dermatomyositis and polymyositis.
| Aerobic exercise compared to no training for dermatomyositis and polymyositis | |||||
| Patient or population: people with dermatomyositis and polymyositis Setting: hospital Intervention: aerobic exercise Comparison: without aerobic exercise training | |||||
| Outcomes | Mean (SD) without aerobic exercise | Mean (SD) with aerobic exercise | Difference (95% CI) | Certainty of the evidence (GRADE) | What happens |
| Muscle strength | No data were provided for this outcome | ||||
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Aerobic capacity: VO2 max (defined as the highest O2 consumption) Assessed with an incremental cycle test on a cycle ergometer Follow‐up: mean 6 weeks 14 participants (1 RCT) |
The mean change in VO2 max without aerobic exercise was a decrease of 2.6 (16.9) mL/min/kg | The mean change in VO2 max with aerobic exercise was an increase of 12.0 (12.4) mL/min/kg | MD 14.6 mL/min/kg higher (1.0 lower to 30.2 higher) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very lowa,b,c | The effect on aerobic capacity (VO2 max) is uncertain |
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Time‐scored functional assessments of muscle performance: disability Assessed with the modified Functional Assessment Screening Questionnaire Follow‐up: mean 6 weeks 14 participants (1 RCT) |
The mean change in disability without aerobic exercise was an increase of 2.9 (29.3) | The mean change in disability with aerobic exercise was an increase of 20.5 (10.9) | MD 17.6 higher (5.6 lower to 40.8 higher) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very lowa,b,c | The effect on disability is uncertain |
| Quality of life | No data were provided for this outcome | ||||
| Pain | No data were provided for this outcome | ||||
| Experienced fatigue | No data were provided for this outcome | ||||
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Adverse effects requiring withdrawal Follow‐up: mean 6 weeks 14 participants (1 RCT) |
No adverse effects were described | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ Very lowa,b,c | The presence or absence of adverse effects requiring withdrawal is uncertain | ||
| CI: confidence interval; MD: mean difference; RCT: randomised controlled trial; SD: standard deviation; VO2 max: maximal oxygen uptake | |||||
| GRADE Working Group grades of evidence High certainty: we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect. Moderate certainty: we are moderately confident in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different. Low certainty: our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect. Very low certainty: we have very little confidence in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect. | |||||
aDowngraded one level for study limitations: there was no information about the generation of the list. It is not clear what is meant by "distinct randomisation lists", there was no published information on the method of allocation concealment, there was no published information about blinding of the assessor of the other measurements and no primary or secondary outcomes were defined. Blinding of participants and personnel was not possible. bDowngraded one level for indirectness: there was no objective assessment of physical activity or exercise level to ensure compliance. cDowngraded one level for imprecision, due to sample size.