PMID 36013034

Research
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Comparison of Three-Month HIIT and CMT Effects on Left Ventricle Echocardiography Observations in Male Employees

Shirvani H, Farahani MM, Ahmadzadeh M, Dinca AR

Question

How do 12 weeks of cycling HIIT and continuous moderate training affect left-ventricle echocardiography and hemodynamic indicators in sedentary male employees?

Summary

In sedentary male office employees, 12 weeks of cycling HIIT was associated with larger left-ventricular volume and dimension changes than energy-matched continuous moderate training or control. The authors interpreted the changes as nonpathological exercise remodeling, but the sample was small and group assignment was not clearly randomized.

Methodology

  • Thirty-three sedentary male office employees of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, age 30-40 years.
  • 33 participants.
  • Cycle ergometer.
  • Work intervals: Not reported.
  • Recovery: Active recovery; 1:4 work:rest ratio.
  • Intensity: 3.7-3.9 W/kg work intervals; 1.2-1.4 W/kg active recovery.
  • Warm-up and cool-down 10 min each; interval block duration not clearly reported.
  • 2 sessions/week for first 4 weeks, then 3 sessions/week for last 8 weeks.
  • 12 weeks, 32 sessions.
  • Pretest-posttest controlled intervention with HIIT, continuous moderate training, and control groups
  • Left ventricular volumes, Left ventricular dimensions, and Aerobic power were tracked.

Outcomes

EDV and SV

HIIT increased end-diastolic volume and stroke volume more than control and CMT.

Between-group differences reported p<0.01

Improved

EDD and ESD

HIIT increased left-ventricular diastolic and systolic dimensions compared with control and CMT.

EDD vs control p=0.03 and vs CMT p=0.04; ESD vs control p=0.01 and vs CMT p=0.02

Improved

RWT and E/A

HIIT increased relative wall thickness and E/A ratio versus control; CMT also increased RWT versus control.

HIIT RWT vs control p=0.04 with no HIIT vs CMT difference; E/A vs control p=0.01

Mixed

Aerobic power

The authors reported increased aerobic power in both training groups.

Abstract-level result; detailed post values were not clearly extracted from the NXML text

Improved

Insights

  • Cycling HIIT may drive cardiac-volume remodeling more strongly than moderate continuous cycling in sedentary middle-aged men.
  • The exact interval duration was not sufficiently described for direct replication.
  • Cardiac-structure outcomes are background evidence, not a direct consumer HIIT programming endpoint.

Limitations

  • Small convenience sample.
  • Randomization was not stated.
  • Exact HIIT interval durations and repetitions were unclear.
  • Fluid intake, plasma volume, and blood volume were not measured.
  • Training duration was limited to 12 weeks due to facility access.

Safety

  • Adverse events were not reported.
  • Authors described the LV enlargement as nonpathological and reported no pathologic symptoms or evidence of cardiac fatigue.