Aquatic training improves HbA1c, blood pressure and functional outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review with meta-analysis

This study aimed to summarize the effects of aquatic training on the health outcomes of type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients.This is a systematic review with meta-analysis that followed the PRISMA recommendations. Searches were performed in four databases in April 2021. The following eligibility criteria were adopted: adults with T2D; aquatic training (AT) intervention in an upright position; pre- and post-intervention assessments of the following outcomes: HbA1c, SBP and DBP, functional capacity, VO2peak. The random-effects meta-analysis results are presented as mean differences and 95% confidence intervals.Of the 375 studies, 12 studies were eligible and included in the meta-analysis. Favorable effects of AT post-intervention were observed in HbA1c (-0.62 %), VO2peak (2.16 mL.Kg-1.min-1), SBP (-5.55 mmHg), DBP (-4.99 mmHg), and the 6-minute walk test (76.64 m). AT also revealed superior effects when compared to the control group (CG) and similar effects to land training (LT) in HbA1c (AT vs CG = -0.67 % and AT vs LT = -0.40 %), VO2peak (AT vs CG = 3.78 mL.Kg-1.min-1; AT vs LT = -0.12 mL/Kg-1.min-1), SBP (AT vs LT = -0.85 mmHg), and DBP (AT vs LT = 2.12 mmHg).AT improves HbA1c, VO2peak, SBP, DBP, and functional capacity in T2D patients. Beneficial effects favored AT over CG, while similar effects were verified between AT and LT on HbA1c, VO2peak, and blood pressure.