The ExTraMATCH II project aimed to determine which HF patient subgroups benefit most from ExCR using IPD meta-analysis.

The project objectives were to:

• obtain definitive estimates of the impact of ExCR interventions compared with no exercise intervention (control) on all-cause mortality, hospitalisation, HRQoL and exercise capacity in HF patients
• determine the differential (subgroup) effects of exercise-based interventions in HF patients according to their:
  • age
  • sex
  • left ventricular ejection fraction
  • HF aetiology
  • NYHA class
  • baseline exercise capacity
• assess whether or not the change in patient exercise capacity mediates and acts as a surrogate end point for the impact of the ExCR on all-cause mortality, all-cause hospitalisation and disease-specific HRQoL.

The information gained from the ExTraMATCH II project will inform future national and international clinical and policy decision-making on the use of ExCR in HF.