The Impact of Virtual Reality on Cardiopulmonary Function and Adherence in Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) technology in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients, focusing on cardiopulmonary function, quality of life, adherence, and satisfaction.

Methods

Conducted following PRISMA guidelines and registered on PROSPERO (CRD42025643632), this study systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Library, Scopus, CNKI, and Wanfang Data. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 to assess the impact of VR interventions on cardiopulmonary function, quality of life (QOL), adherence, and satisfaction compared to conventional CR programs.

Results

Twenty studies were included. Meta-analysis revealed that VR improved the 6 min walk test distance (MD: 34.9, 95% CI: 24.43, 45.37; p < 0.00001, I2 = 67%) and QOL (SMD: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.09, 1.17; p = 0.002, I2 = 86%). However, evidence regarding adherence and satisfaction was inconclusive.

Conclusions

VR technology outperforms traditional CR in enhancing cardiopulmonary function and quality of life. While it might improve patient adherence, further research is necessary to confirm these findings.