title: High Intensity Interval versus Moderate Intensity Continuous Training in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: A Meta-analysis of Physiological and Clinical Parameters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) significantly improves their outcome, although the optimal mode of exercise training remains undetermined. Previous analyses have been constrained by small sample sizes and a limited focus on clinical parameters. Further, results from previous studies have been contradicted by a recently published large RCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a meta-analysis of published randomised controlled trials to compare high intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate intensity continuous training (MCT) in their ability to improve patients' aerobic exercise capacity (VO2peak) and various cardiovascular risk factors. We included patients with established coronary artery disease without or without impaired ejection fraction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten studies with 472 patients were included for analyses (218 HIIT, 254 MCT). Overall, HIIT was associated with a more pronounced incremental gain in participants' mean VO2peak when compared with MCT (+1.78mL/kg/min, 95% CI: 0.45-3.11). Moderate intensity continuous training however was associated with a more marked decline in patients' mean resting heart rate (-1.8/min, 95% CI: 0.71-2.89) and body weight (-0.48kg, 95% CI: 0.15-0.81). No significant differences were noted in the level of glucose, triglyceride and HDL at the end of exercise program between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High intensity interval training improves the mean VO2peak in patients with CAD more than MCT, although MCT was associated with a more pronounced numerical decline in patients' resting heart rate and body weight. The underlying mechanisms and clinical relevance of these results are uncertain, and remain a potential focus for future studies.
authors.affiliation: Eastern Heart Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: Kevin.Liou@SESIAHS.HEALTH.NSW.GOV.AU.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and St George Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Suyen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fildes
authors.affiliation: Eastern Heart Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Sze-Yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ooi
mesh_terms: D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013318:Stroke Volume
keywords: Continuous training; Coronary artery disease; Interval training; VO(2peak)