# The Efficacy of Prehabilitation Programs in Improving the Quality of Life, Anxiety, and Depression of Individuals Undergoing Surgery: A Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

## TL;DR

Prehabilitation programs before surgery improve quality of life and reduce depression, but not anxiety, according to a meta-analysis of 11 studies.

## Contribution

This study provides the first meta-analysis confirming prehabilitation's effectiveness in improving quality of life and reducing depression in surgical patients.

## Key findings

- Prehabilitation significantly improved postoperative quality of life with an effect size of 4.68.
- Depressive symptoms were reduced with an effect size of -0.13.
- Anxiety levels were not significantly affected by prehabilitation.

## Abstract

To assess the efficacy of prehabilitation programs in improving quality of life and alleviating anxiety and depression among adults undergoing surgery, a systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted by searching seven major biomedical databases (CNKI, Wanfang, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Sinomed) from inception to October 30, 2025. Randomized controlled trials evaluating prehabilitation interventions in surgical patients were included. Eleven studies met inclusion criteria. Prehabilitation significantly improved postoperative quality of life (effect size = 4.68, 95% CI [1.18, 8.18], p < 0.05) and reduced depressive symptoms (effect size = −0.13, 95% CI [−0.26, −0.01], p < 0.03), whereas its effect on anxiety was not significant (effect size = 0.01, 95% CI [−0.13, 0.14], p = 0.92). Subgroup analyses indicated that benefits were most evident in the medium‐term period, while long‐term effects were minimal. No publication bias was observed, and the overall quality of evidence was moderate. Prehabilitation is effective in enhancing quality of life and reducing depression in surgical patients; however, its impact on anxiety remains inconclusive. Optimal effects may be associated with structured, multimodal prehabilitation programs and medium‐term follow‐up. Future randomized trials should examine program components, delivery modes, and long‐term outcomes to refine clinical implementation.