PMID 29785255

Research
All papers

Feasibility of high-intensity training in asthma

Toennesen LL, Soerensen ED, Hostrup M, Porsbjerg C, Bangsbo J, Backer V

Question

Do baseline asthma control, FEV1, airway inflammation, and airway hyperresponsiveness predict the fitness response to an 8-week supervised high-intensity interval training program in untrained adults with asthma?

Summary

This paper analyzes the exercise arm of the EFFORT Asthma randomized trial to ask whether adults with partly controlled or uncontrolled asthma could complete an 8-week high-intensity interval cycling program and improve fitness. The protocol used supervised indoor spinning three times per week with 10-20-30 intervals. Participants improved VO2max and peak power, had no major serious events, and improved regardless of baseline asthma control, lung function, airway inflammation, or airway hyperresponsiveness.

Methodology

  • Untrained non-obese adults with confirmed partly controlled or uncontrolled asthma who completed the exercise intervention.
  • 29 participants.
  • Indoor spinning bike.
  • Work intervals: 10 s above 90% HRmax repeated inside each 1-min cycle.
  • Recovery: 30 s below 30% HRmax plus 20 s below 60% HRmax; 2 min between 5-min blocks.
  • Intensity: Target 90-100% HRmax during 5-min interval blocks.
  • Approximately 34-46 min.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 8 weeks.
  • Sub-analysis of the exercise group from the EFFORT Asthma randomized controlled trial.
  • VO2max, Peak power output, and Safety were tracked.

Outcomes

VO2max

Mean VO2max improved from 38.4 to 41.5 ml/kg/min.

Change 3.1 ml/kg/min, p<0.0001.

Improved

Peak power output

Mean PPO improved from 241 to 270 W.

Change 28.3 W, p<0.0001.

Improved

Baseline asthma markers as predictors

Baseline ACQ, FEV1, FeNO, and airway hyperresponsiveness were not significantly associated with fitness improvements.

ACQ p=0.49; FeNO p=0.80; AHR p=0.58 for VO2max association.

No clear change

Insights

  • Supervised HIIT can be feasible for selected adults with asthma when medication and emergency plans are explicit.
  • Asthma control and airway hyperresponsiveness did not prevent fitness gains in this sample.
  • For app translation, asthma-related claims need screening and severity caveats.

Limitations

  • Completer-only exercise-arm sub-analysis.
  • No comparator group in this paper's analysis.
  • Severe asthma was not represented.
  • Minor symptom events were not systematically recorded.
  • External validity limited by recruitment and supervision context.

Safety

  • No major serious events were seen.
  • Minor extra SABA use or short training breaks were not recorded.