Dropout From Exercise Interventions in Adults With Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To meta-analyze the prevalence and predictors of dropout rates among adults with fibromyalgia participating in exercise randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

DATA SOURCES

Two authors searched Embase, CINAHL, PsycARTICLES, and Medline up to 01/21/2023.

STUDY SELECTION

We included RCTs of exercise interventions in people with fibromyalgia that reported dropout rates.

DATA EXTRACTION

Dropout rates from exercise and control conditions and exerciser/participant, provider, and design/implementation related predictors.

DATA SYNTHESIS

A random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression were conducted. In total, 89 RCTs involving 122 exercise arms in 3.702 people with fibromyalgia were included. The trim-and-fill-adjusted prevalence of dropout across all RCTs was 19.2% (95% CI=16.9%-21.8%), which is comparable with the dropout observed in control conditions with the trim-and-fill-adjusted odds ratio being 0.31 (95% CI=0.92-1.86, P=.44). Body mass index (R=0.16, P=.03) and higher effect of illness (R=0.20, P=.02) predicted higher dropout. The lowest dropout was observed in exergaming, compared with other exercise types (P=.014), and in lower-intensity exercises, compared with high intensity exercise (P=.03). No differences in dropout were observed for the frequency or duration of the exercise intervention. Continuous supervision by an exercise expert (eg, physiotherapist) resulted in the lowest dropout rates (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Exercise dropout in RCTs is comparable with control conditions, suggesting that exercise is a feasible and accepted treatment modality; however, interventions are ideally supervised by an expert (eg, physiotherapist) to minimize the risk of dropout. Experts should consider a high BMI and the effect of the illness as risk factors for dropout.