title: Copenhagen study of overweight patients with coronary artery disease undergoing low energy diet or interval training: the randomized CUT-IT trial protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Coronary artery disease (CAD) is accountable for more than 7 million deaths each year according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In a European population 80% of patients diagnosed with CAD are overweight and 31% are obese. Physical inactivity and overweight are major risk factors in CAD, thus central strategies in secondary prevention are increased physical activity and weight loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized controlled trial 70 participants with stable CAD, age 45-75, body mass index 28-40 kg/m2 and no diabetes are randomized (1:1) to 12 weeks of intensive exercise or weight loss both succeeded by a 40-week follow-up. The exercise protocol consist of supervised aerobic interval training (AIT) at 85-90% of VO2peak 3 times weekly for 12 weeks followed by supervised AIT twice weekly for 40 weeks. In the weight loss arm dieticians instruct the participants in a low energy diet (800-1000 kcal/day) for 12 weeks, followed by 40 weeks of weight maintenance combined with supervised AIT twice weekly. The primary endpoint of the study is change in coronary flow reserve after the first 12 weeks' intervention. Secondary endpoints include cardiovascular, metabolic, inflammatory and anthropometric measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study will compare the short and long-term effects of a protocol consisting of AIT alone or a rapid weight loss followed by AIT. Additionally, it will provide new insight in mechanisms behind the benefits of exercise and weight loss. We wish to contribute to the creation of effective secondary prevention and sustainable rehabilitation strategies in the large population of overweight and obese patients diagnosed with CAD.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01724567.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. lrpedersen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lene Rørholm
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Rasmus Huan
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frederiksen
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Astrup
authors.forename: Elizaveta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chabanova
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hasbak
authors.forename: Jens Juul
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Holst
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kjær
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walzem
authors.forename: Ulrik
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wisløff
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sajadieh
authors.forename: Steen Bendix
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Haugaard
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prescott
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology