Efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized control trials

This network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to compare the efficacy of five non-pharmacological interventions, including exercise intervention (EI), nutritional intervention (NI), respiratory intervention (RI), psychological intervention (PSI), and integrated physical intervention (IPI), on functional status, quality of life, muscle strength, pulmonary function, and safety in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We searched nine databases, PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, WFPD, and CSTJ, for randomized controlled trials of ALS patients. The primary outcome was the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) score. Secondary outcomes were the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (McGill-QoL), Medical Research Council (MRC)-sum score, Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) score. This NMA was conducted using random-effect models to calculate the standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). All types of supplemental interventions had some benefit for patients with ALS. EI had a beneficial effect on the ALSFRS-R score (SMD: 1.01; 95% CI 0.50–1.51), FVC (SMD: 0.78; 95% CI 0.02–1.55), McGill-QoL (SMD: 0.71 95% CI 0.33–1.08), and MRC (SMD: 1.11; 95% CI 0.08–2.14). RI had a beneficial effect on the ALSFRS-R score (SMD: 0.83 95% CI 0.12–1.55). IPI had a beneficial effect on the ALSFRS-R score (SMD: 0.65 95% CI 0.06–1.24). NI had a beneficial effect on the McGill-QoL (SMD: 0.63 95% CI 0.02–1.23). The current study findings support a multimodal intervention strategy with an emphasis on EI for slowing disease progression in patients with ALS.