title: Aerobic interval training increases peak oxygen uptake more than usual care exercise training in myocardial infarction patients: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Exercise capacity strongly predicts survival and aerobic interval training (AIT) increases peak oxygen uptake effectively in cardiac patients. Usual care in Norway provides exercise training at the hospitals following myocardial infarction (MI), but the effect and actual intensity of these rehabilitation programmes are unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital cardiac rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and seven patients, recruited two to 12 weeks after MI, were randomized to usual care rehabilitation or treadmill AIT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Usual care aerobic group exercise training or treadmill AIT as 4 × 4 minutes intervals at 85-95% of peak heart rate. Twice weekly exercise training for 12 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure was peak oxygen uptake. Secondary outcome measures were endothelial function, blood markers of cardiovascular disease, quality of life, resting heart rate, and heart rate recovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-nine patients (74 men, 15 women, 57.4 ± 9.5 years) completed the programme. Peak oxygen uptake increased more (P = 0.002) after AIT (from 31.6 ± 5.8 to 36.2 ± 8.6 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1), P < 0.001) than after usual care rehabilitation (from 32.2 ± 6.7 to 34.7 ± 7.9 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1), P < 0.001). The AIT group exercised with significantly higher intensity in the intervals compared to the highest intensity in the usual care group (87.3 ± 3.9% versus 78.7 ± 7.2% of peak heart rate, respectively, P < 0.001). Both programmes increased endothelial function, serum adiponectin, and quality of life, and reduced serum ferritin and resting heart rate. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased only after AIT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AIT increased peak oxygen uptake more than the usual care rehabilitation provided to MI patients by Norwegian hospitals.
authors.affiliation: KG Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Trondheim, Norway. trine.moholdt@ntnu.no
authors.forename: Trine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moholdt
authors.forename: Inger Lise
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Aamot
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Granøien
authors.forename: Lisbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gjerde
authors.forename: Gitte
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Myklebust
authors.forename: Liv
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Walderhaug
authors.forename: Line
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brattbakk
authors.forename: Torstein
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hole
authors.forename: Torbjørn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Graven
authors.forename: Tomas O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Stølen
authors.forename: Brage H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Amundsen
authors.forename: Harald Edvard
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Mølmen-Hansen
authors.forename: Asbjørn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Støylen
authors.forename: Ulrik
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wisløff
authors.forename: Stig A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Slørdahl
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009664:Norway; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life