Efficacy of high-intensity inspiratory muscle training in chronic heart failure: A systematic review with meta-analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62827/fb.v27i6.1230Keywords:
Cardiac Rehabilitation; Respiratory Muscles; Exercise Tolerance; Dyspnea; Maximal Respiratory Pressures.Abstract
Introduction: Chronic heart failure is a progressive syndrome associated with inspiratory muscle weakness, reduced functional capacity, poorer exercise tolerance, and increased dyspnea. Inspiratory muscle training is part of the rehabilitation for these patients; however, the effects of high-intensity inspiratory muscle training remain a subject of debate and have been little investigated. Objective: The effects of high-intensity inspiratory muscle training on functional capacity and respiratory muscle strength in patients with chronic heart failure were evaluated and compared to conventional treatment. Methods: A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted, involving database searches. Randomized clinical trials published between 2016 and 2026 for which full text was available were included. Studies were excluded if they were duplicates, reviews, editorials, letters, or case reports, or if they involved different populations, inappropriate interventions, the absence of a comparator group, or a lack of full text or sufficient data for quantitative analysis. Results: Thirty records were identified, of which four met the inclusion criteria (13.3%), corresponding to an exclusion rate of 86.6%. Despite differences in intervention duration and aerobic training combinations, there was adequate clinical comparability. Regarding the primary outcome, the combined effect favored the intervention (standardized mean difference=0.69; 95% confidence interval: 0.14–1.23). For the secondary outcome, a significant increase in respiratory muscle strength was observed (mean difference=12.32 cmH₂O; 95% confidence interval: 9.15–15.49; p<0.05). Conclusion: High-intensity inspiratory muscle training improves functional capacity and respiratory muscle strength, serving as a complementary intervention in the cardiovascular rehabilitation of patients with chronic heart failure.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Danilo de Assis Campos Filho , Guilherme Cotta De Castro, Maria Eduarda de Souza Santana, Thais Gasbarro Araujo, Mário Sérgio Simão do Carmo (Autor)
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