Comparison 1. Exercise versus no exercise for acute respiratory infections (total).

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Number of ARI episodes per person/year	4	514	Rate Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	1.00 [0.77, 1.30]
2 Proportion of participants who experienced at least 1 ARI over study period	5	520	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.88 [0.72, 1.08]
3 Severity of ARI symptoms	2	373	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐103.57 [‐198.28, ‐8.87]
4 Number of symptom days during follow‐up period (12 weeks)	4	483	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.24 [‐3.50, ‐0.98]
5 Number of symptom days per episode	6	557	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.44 [‐2.33, 1.46]
6 Laboratory parameters ‐ lymphocytes	3	157	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.11 [‐0.10, 0.31]
7 Laboratory parameters ‐ IgA	4	166	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.07 [‐0.37, 0.52]
8 Laboratory parameters ‐ neutrophils	4	489	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.24 [‐0.54, 0.06]
9 Quality of life	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
9.1 Physical health	2	373	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.37 [‐2.31, 5.05]
9.2 Mental health	2	373	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	3.37 [‐0.59, 7.34]
10 Cost to the patient (USD)	2	373	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐53.46 [‐128.17, 21.24]
11 Exercise‐related injuries	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
12 Adherence to the group intervention	11	828	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.89, 1.02]
13 Number of symptom days per episode ‐ menopausal women	3	158	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.07 [‐1.74, ‐0.41]