Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice ›› 2025, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (10): 1164-1171.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2025.10.007

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Effect of threshold inspiratory muscle training on pulmonary rehabilitation in postoperative lung cancer patients: a meta-analysis

ZHAO Yingnan1, ZHENG Xintong1, LIU Junling1, WANG Zidan1, WU Hongyue1, LI Bing1, LI Yan2()   

  1. 1. Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
    2. Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin 300060, China
  • Received:2025-08-06 Revised:2025-09-10 Published:2025-10-25 Online:2025-11-10
  • Contact: LI Yan, E-mail: liyan1@tjmuch.com
  • Supported by:
    Construction Project of Tianjin Key Medical Disciplines (Specialties)(TJYXZDXK-011A);Hospital Management Innovation Research Project of Tianjin Medical University(2023YG12)

Abstract:

Objective To systematically evaluate the effect of threshold inspiratory muscle training on pulmonary rehabilitation in postoperative lung cancer patients, with a focus on exploring the difference in efficacy under different intervention modes.
Methods Randomized controlled trials on the effect of threshold inspiratory muscle training on pulmonary rehabilitation in postoperative lung cancer patients were retrieved from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang data, VIP and China Biomedical Literature Database. Meanwhile, gray literature from ProQuest and clinicaltrials.gov was searched as supplements. The retrieval period was from the establishment of each database to May 9, 2025. Cochrane 5.1.0 was used to evaluate the quality of literature, and a meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4.
Results Twelve studies involving 701 patients were included, all of which were of moderate to high quality. Threshold inspiratory muscle training could reduce the pulmonary complications of postoperative lung cancer patients (OR = 0.45, 95%CI 0.29 to 0.68, P < 0.001), shorten the hospital stay (MD = -1.85, 95%CI -3.29 to -0.42, P = 0.010), improve the inspiratory muscle strength (MD = 5.84, 95%CI 0.96 to 10.71, P = 0.020), enhance their exercise endurance (SMD = 0.40, 95%CI 0.10 to 0.71, P = 0.010), and did not increase the risk of pulmonary air leakage (OR = 0.88, 95%CI 0.47 to 1.63, P = 0.680). Subgroup analysis revealed that shortening of hospital stay (MD = -2.98,95%CI -5.87 to -0.09, P = 0.040) and the improvement in exercise endurance (SMD = 0.57, 95%CI 0.14 to 1.00, P = 0.009) were significant only when threshold inspiratory muscle training was combined with aerobic exercise. However, standalone threshold inspiratory muscle training showed no statistical significance in these two outcomes.
Conclusion Threshold inspiratory muscle training can effectively reduce postoperative pulmonary complications and improve inspiratory muscle strength in postoperative lung cancer patients with good safety. Threshold inspiratory muscle training could shorten hospital stay and improve exercise endurance only when combining with aerobic exercise.

Key words: lung cancer, threshold inspiratory muscle training, pulmonary rehabilitation, meta-analysis

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