Aerobic interval training increases peak oxygen uptake more than usual care exercise training in myocardial infarction patients: a randomized controlled study.
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
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.
Randomized controlled trial.
Hospital cardiac rehabilitation.
One hundred and seven patients, recruited two to 12 weeks after MI, were randomized to usual care rehabilitation or treadmill AIT.
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.
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.
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?