Lifestyle interventions improving health-related quality of life: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials

Lifestyle interventions have garnered significant research interest for their potential to enhance health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Understanding the impact of these interventions on various dimensions of HRQoL is crucial for effective healthcare strategies. This study aims to systematically review and meta-analyze the effects of lifestyle interventions on HRQoL in randomized control trials. A systematic search was conducted across five scientific databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and gray literature, with a filter applied to include only English language publications. Study selection was carried out by two independent reviewers in several steps, including duplicate removal and eligibility evaluation for meta-analysis. Information extracted from the studies included authors, countries, study designs, target populations, ages, genders, number of participants, interventions, outcomes, and results. A total of 61 randomized control trials were included in this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that lifestyle interventions significantly improved healthrelated quality of life compared to control groups, with Hedges’ g of 0.38 (95% CI 0.25-0.50, Z = 5.94; P < 0.001; I2 = 84.59%). This positive effect was consistently observed in patients with heart-related diseases and metabolic disorders. Meta-regression analysis indicated that lifestyle interventions had the most substantial impact on health-related quality of life in the 1-month follow-up period. Considering the cost-effectiveness of lifestyle interventions compared to other intervention types, they can benefit various patient groups. This systematic review contributes to health policy goals by advocating focused preventive strategies in alignment with the observed benefits of lifestyle interventions.