Evidence Hub

Pharmacology Management in Improving Exercise Capacity of Patients with Fontan Circulation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Mendel B, Christianto, Setiawan M, Siagian SN, Prakoso R

Current cardiology reviews, 2022

10 citations

Abstract

Background: The Fontan procedure is currently the mainstay therapy for single functional ventricles. However, with prolonged follow-up duration, various complications have been observed that seriously influence the quality of life of patients.

Objectives: The aim of this meta-analysis is to compare the effectiveness of pharmacologic agents in improving exercise capacity in patients with Fontan circulation.

Methods: This meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement and has been registered in the International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews database with registration no. 282352. Quality assessments of the included studies were assessed using the Strengthening Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement.

Results: Twelve studies met the predetermined inclusion criteria and were included in this metaanalysis. This meta-analysis found that treatment with bosentan significantly improved New York Heart Association Functional Class (NYHA FC) in Fontan patients (standard mean difference - 0.59, 95% CI -0.94 - -0.25; P=0.0008; I2 = 1%). However, the use of bosentan (P=0.66) and sildenafil (P=0.13) did not show a significant improvement in the maximum rate of oxygen consumption (VO2 max).

Conclusion: This meta-analysis shows that people with Fontan circulation may benefit from using bosentan as it decreases postexercise heart rate and improves NYHA FC and 6-minute…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free