This systematic review with meta-analysis looked at unsupervised home-based exercise programs involving aerobic or combined training. The researchers included healthy sedentary individuals and patients with cardiovascular disease. They compared these programs to a control group that did not receive the exercise intervention.
The main finding was an improvement in peak oxygen uptake, known as VO peak, for the group doing the exercise. The data showed a mean difference of 2.70 mL per kilogram per minute with a p-value less than 0.001. This suggests the exercise helped increase oxygen use during activity.
The study noted high inconsistency between the different studies included, with an I-squared value of 85 percent. Because of this variation, the results should be interpreted carefully. No adverse events were reported in the available data. Readers should consider overload and individualization principles when thinking about increasing the effect of this training.