PMID 39076951

Research
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Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training vs Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Body Composition and Blood Biomarkers in Coronary Artery Disease Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Gonçalves C, Raimundo A, Abreu A, Pais J, Bravo J

Question

In low-risk coronary artery disease patients after coronary events and angioplasty, how do supervised HIIT and MICT compare with control advice for blood pressure, body composition, and blood biomarkers over six weeks?

Summary

This randomized trial tested 6 weeks of supervised treadmill HIIT, moderate continuous treadmill training, or control advice in coronary artery disease patients about two months after angioplasty. Both exercise programs improved blood pressure, body composition, and several biomarkers versus control. HIIT showed larger improvements than MICT for body fat mass, waist circumference, HbA1c, and TSH. Adherence was 96% in both exercise groups and no adverse events were reported during the exercise interventions.

Methodology

  • Low-risk coronary artery disease patients referred to community exercise after coronary event/angioplasty.
  • 69 participants.
  • Treadmill.
  • Work intervals: 4 minutes.
  • Recovery: 1 minute at 40% HRpeak.
  • Intensity: 85-95% HRpeak, Borg CR10 6-9.
  • About 38-43 minutes including warm-up and cool-down.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 6 weeks.
  • Randomized controlled trial with HIIT, MICT, and control groups.
  • Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, Body weight, BMI, body fat, abdominal fat, waist circumference, Lipids, hsCRP, glucose, HbA1c, thyroid biomarkers, and Adherence and adverse events were tracked.

Outcomes

Blood pressure

Both HIIT and MICT lowered systolic and diastolic BP compared with control.

HIIT SBP -9 mm Hg and DBP -6 mm Hg, p<0.001; MICT SBP -8 mm Hg and DBP -6 mm Hg, p<0.001.

Improved

Body composition

HIIT and MICT improved body composition, with larger reported body-fat-mass and waist-circumference improvements for HIIT.

Abstract reports body fat mass delta HIIT 4.5% vs MICT 3.2%, and waist circumference delta HIIT 4.1% vs MICT 2.5%.

Improved

Blood biomarkers

Exercise improved several biomarkers versus control; HIIT showed larger HbA1c and TSH changes than MICT.

Abstract reports HbA1c delta HIIT 10.4% vs MICT 32.3% and TSH delta HIIT 16.5%, p=0.007 vs MICT 3.1%, p=0.201; direction wording in source should be reviewed before consumer display.

Improved

Adherence and safety

Both exercise protocols had high adherence and no adverse events.

96% adherence in HIIT and MICT; no adverse events during exercise interventions.

Improved

Insights

  • HIIT evidence in CAD should be used as clinical-rehab content, not generic workout advice.
  • For cardiac contexts, RPE plus HR is useful because beta-blocker therapy can alter HR response.
  • Long-interval HIIT can be safe in selected low-risk CAD when tightly screened and supervised.

Limitations

  • Small sample size.
  • Short intervention.
  • Selected low-risk CAD patients only.
  • Some achieved intensity details were in supplementary material not extracted here.

Safety

  • No adverse events occurred during HIIT or MICT exercise interventions.
  • Participants were selected low-risk CAD patients and were monitored by a physiologist.
  • The protocol excluded uncontrolled angina, arrhythmia, ischemic signs/symptoms, and severe comorbid limitations.