# Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training and Continuous Aerobic Training on Health-Fitness, Health Related Quality of Life, and Psychological Measures in College-Aged Smokers

PMID: 36612974
Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Published: 2022 Dec 30
Authors: Shandu NM, Mathunjwa ML, Shaw BS, Shaw I

## Question

Do HIIT and continuous aerobic cycling training improve health-fitness, health-related quality of life, and psychological measures in college-aged smokers?

## Summary

In physically inactive male college-aged smokers, 8 weeks of supervised cycling HIIT and continuous aerobic training improved several quality-of-life, hemodynamic, and lung-function measures. HIIT showed clearer improvements for some lung-function measures, but VO2max did not significantly improve and the study had notable attrition and reporting inconsistencies.

## Population

- 48 physically inactive male college-aged smokers completed analysis from 60 randomized.
- Sample size: 48
- Age: 18-30 years
- Sex: Male
- Fitness level: Physically inactive
- Health status: Current smokers or recently quit smokers without exercise contraindications

## Methodology

- Randomized controlled trial with HIIT, continuous aerobic training, and sedentary control
- 8 weeks
- University gymnasium in South Africa
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- Cycling HIIT for smokers.
- Modality: Stationary cycling.
- Work intervals: 8 s sprint.
- Recovery: 12 s passive rest.
- Sets or repetitions: Maximum 60 repetitions.
- Intensity: As much effort as possible during sprinting.
- Session duration: 33 min including warm-up and cool-down.
- Frequency: 3 sessions/week.
- Program length: 8 weeks.
- Progression: Resistance began at 1.0 kg and increased by 0.5 kg after two consecutive completed intermittent sessions.
- Continuous aerobic training.
- Modality: Stationary cycling.
- Work intervals: 40 min continuous cycling.
- Sets or repetitions: 1 continuous bout.
- Intensity: 60-75% VO2max at 60 +/- 5 rpm.
- Session duration: 55 min including warm-up, cool-down, and stretching.
- Frequency: 3 sessions/week.
- Program length: 8 weeks.
- Progression: Resistance increased to maintain 60-75% VO2max.

## Outcomes

### HRQOL
Status: improved
Exercise groups improved HRQOL domains more than control.

Both HIIT and CAT showed significant domain improvements; CAT social relationships was not significant.

### RHR
Status: improved
Resting heart rate improved in exercise groups compared with control.

Abstract: RHR improved in HIIT p=0.00 and CAT p=0.002; significant HIIT vs CAT difference reported.

### Lung function
Status: mixed
HIIT improved several spirometry measures, including FEF_75, more clearly than CAT.

FEF_75 measured improved in HIIT from 1.63 +/- 0.29 to 2.04 +/- 0.50 L/s, p=0.013; HIIT vs CAT p=0.04 in abstract.

### VO2max
Status: no clear change
Estimated VO2max did not significantly improve in any group.

HIIT p=0.123; CAT p=0.226; control p=0.437.

## Practical Insights

- Very short 8-second cycling sprints can be structured into a longer supervised micro-interval workout.
- For smokers, screening for cardiovascular contraindications is essential.
- Attrition and unclear safety reporting reduce confidence for direct app recommendations.

## Limitations

- Small homogeneous male college sample.
- Findings may not generalize to other ages or women.
- Unequal post-test group sizes may confound observations.
- Satisfaction survey psychometrics were not validated.
- Adverse-event reporting was not explicit.
- Article has an internal inconsistency in attrition count.

## Safety And Adherence

- Participants with major contraindications were excluded.
- Adverse events and injuries were not explicitly reported.
- 48 of 60 randomized participants completed post-testing; article text contains an inconsistent exclusion count.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36612974/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010653) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9819471/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.