PMID 40413509

Research
All papers

The effectiveness of a high-intensity interval exercise on cardiometabolic health and quality of life in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sert H, Gulbahar Eren M, Gurcay B, Koc F

Question

What are the effects of HIIT on cardiometabolic health and quality-of-life outcomes in adults over 60 compared with control conditions in randomized trials?

Summary

Across 11 randomized trials in older adults, HIIT improved 6-minute walk distance, VO2peak, and quality of life compared with control conditions, but gait speed did not improve significantly. The review supports cautious frontend statements about supervised HIIT helping some fitness and quality-of-life outcomes in older adults, while noting that protocols and populations varied widely.

Methodology

  • Adults over 60 from 11 randomized trials
  • 1147 participants.
  • Mixed cycling, treadmill, resistance, bodyweight, and rehabilitation modalities.
  • Work intervals: Commonly 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Recovery: Commonly 1 to 3 minutes active recovery.
  • Intensity: Often 80%-95% HRmax for work and 40%-60% HRmax recovery.
  • 30 to 90 minutes.
  • 2 to 5 times/week.
  • 4 to 12 weeks.
  • Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
  • 6MWT, VO2peak, Quality of life, and Gait speed were tracked.

Outcomes

6MWT

HIIT improved 6-minute walk distance compared with control.

MD +51.62 m, 95% CI 24.56 to 78.67, p=0.0002, I2=8%

Improved

VO2peak

HIIT improved VO2peak compared with control.

MD +2.90 mL/kg/min, 95% CI 1.38 to 4.42, p=0.0002, I2=12%

Improved

Quality of life

Quality of life improved in pooled analysis, but heterogeneity was high.

SMD 1.52, 95% CI 0.40 to 2.63, p=0.008, I2=96%

Improved

Gait speed

Gait speed did not improve significantly.

MD +0.12 m/s, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.28, p=0.15, I2=96%

No clear change

Insights

  • This is useful frontend evidence for older-adult walking capacity, VO2peak, and quality-of-life benefits with cautious wording.
  • It does not provide one exact workout template.
  • Safety language should acknowledge professional supervision and incomplete adverse-event reporting.

Limitations

  • Protocol heterogeneity
  • Small number of studies per pooled outcome
  • High heterogeneity for gait speed and quality of life
  • English-only review
  • Side effects not consistently reported
  • Blinding limitations in exercise trials

Safety

  • Side effects and adverse events were not consistently reported across included trials.
  • The authors recommend multidisciplinary health-professional involvement for older adults.