Greater improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness using higher-intensity interval training in the standard cardiac rehabilitation setting.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

We tested the hypothesis that higher-intensity interval training (HIIT) could be deployed into a standard cardiac rehabilitation (CR) setting and would result in a greater increase in cardiorespiratory fitness (ie, peak oxygen uptake, (·)VO₂) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MCT).

METHODS:

Thirty-nine patients participating in a standard phase 2 CR program were randomized to HIIT or MCT; 15 patients and 13 patients in the HIIT and MCT groups, respectively, completed CR and baseline and followup cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

RESULTS:

No patients in either study group experienced an event that required hospitalization during or within 3 hours after exercise. The changes in resting heart rate and blood pressure at followup testing were similar for both HIIT and MCT. (·)VO₂ at ventilatory-derived anaerobic threshold increased more (P < .05) with HIIT (3.0 ± 2.8 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) versus MCT (0.7 ± 2.2 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹). During followup testing, submaximal heart rate at the end of stage 2 of the exercise test was significantly lower within both the HIIT and MCT groups, with no difference noted between groups. Peak (·)VO₂ improved more after CR in patients in HIIT versus MCT (3.6 ± 3.1 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ vs 1.7 ± 1.7 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹; P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Among patients with stable coronary heart disease on evidence-based therapy, HIIT was successfully integrated into a standard CR setting and, when compared to MCT, resulted in greater improvement in peak exercise capacity and submaximal endurance.

• Authors: Steven J Keteyian, Brooks A Hibner, Kyle Bronsteen, Dennis Kerrigan, Heather A Aldred, Lisa M Reasons, Mathew A Saval, Clinton A Brawner, John R Schairer, Tracey M S Thompson, Jason Hill, Derek McCulloch, Jonathon K Ehrman
• Journal: Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention (J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev) 2014 Mar-Apr Vol. 34 Issue 2 Pg. 98-105 ISSN: 1932-751X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24531203 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Blood Pressure (physiology)
• Coronary Artery Bypass (rehabilitation)
• Exercise Test
• Exercise Therapy (methods)
• Female
• Heart Rate (physiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Myocardial Infarction (rehabilitation)
• Oxygen Consumption (physiology)
• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (rehabilitation)
• Physical Exertion (physiology)