title: Greater improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness using higher-intensity interval training in the standard cardiac rehabilitation setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We tested the hypothesis that higher-intensity interval training (HIIT) could be deployed into a standard cardiac rehabilitation (CR) setting and would result in a greater increase in cardiorespiratory fitness (ie, peak oxygen uptake, (·)VO₂) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients participating in a standard phase 2 CR program were randomized to HIIT or MCT; 15 patients and 13 patients in the HIIT and MCT groups, respectively, completed CR and baseline and followup cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No patients in either study group experienced an event that required hospitalization during or within 3 hours after exercise. The changes in resting heart rate and blood pressure at followup testing were similar for both HIIT and MCT. (·)VO₂ at ventilatory-derived anaerobic threshold increased more (P < .05) with HIIT (3.0 ± 2.8 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) versus MCT (0.7 ± 2.2 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹). During followup testing, submaximal heart rate at the end of stage 2 of the exercise test was significantly lower within both the HIIT and MCT groups, with no difference noted between groups. Peak (·)VO₂ improved more after CR in patients in HIIT versus MCT (3.6 ± 3.1 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ vs 1.7 ± 1.7 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹; P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among patients with stable coronary heart disease on evidence-based therapy, HIIT was successfully integrated into a standard CR setting and, when compared to MCT, resulted in greater improvement in peak exercise capacity and submaximal endurance.
authors: Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan.
authors: Steven J
authors: SJ
authors: Keteyian
authors: Brooks A
authors: BA
authors: Hibner
authors: Kyle
authors: K
authors: Bronsteen
authors: Dennis
authors: D
authors: Kerrigan
authors: Heather A
authors: HA
authors: Aldred
authors: Lisa M
authors: LM
authors: Reasons
authors: Mathew A
authors: MA
authors: Saval
authors: Clinton A
authors: CA
authors: Brawner
authors: John R
authors: JR
authors: Schairer
authors: Tracey M S
authors: TM
authors: Thompson
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Hill
authors: Derek
authors: D
authors: McCulloch
authors: Jonathon K
authors: JK
authors: Ehrman
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology