A systematic review of physical activity guidelines for adults with cardio-respiratory diseases: Stepping towards evidence-based recommendations.

The review only included guidelines published in English, potentially missing relevant international guidance. Not all cardio-respiratory diseases were covered, limiting applicability to other conditions. Heterogeneity in how guidelines reported recommendations made it difficult to extract comprehensive FITT data. The review synthesised existing guidance rather than testing patient outcomes, so it cannot confirm whether following these guidelines improves health. It was sometimes unclear if specific instructions applied only to the general population or also to patients with cardio-respiratory disease.

The authors disclosed no potential conflicts of interest. Funding was provided by the European Space Agency, British Heart Foundation, Medical Research Council, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Do not interpret the lack of specific FITT recommendations in most guidelines as evidence that physical activity is unsafe or ineffective for these patients. The review found that guidelines are often vague, not that the underlying evidence for activity is weak. The absence of detailed strength and flexibility guidance reflects a gap in the documents, not a contraindication to these exercises.