HIIT Programs for Cardiac Rehabilitation

Overseen By Jenna-Lee Taylor, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Mayo Clinic

Disqualifiers: Coronary bypass, Heart transplant, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

30 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to evaluate how two different high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programs can enhance fitness, heart function, and oxygen delivery to muscles in individuals with heart conditions. One group will follow a standard HIIT program, known as Constant High Intensity Interval Training (CON-HIIT), while the other group will engage in a progressive program with changes over 12 weeks, called Progressive High Intensity Interval Training (PRO-HIIT). Individuals with non-surgical heart issues, such as heart attacks or stable chest pain, who can participate in regular exercise programs, might be suitable candidates. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding how exercise can benefit heart health.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that these HIIT programs are safe for cardiac rehabilitation?

Research has shown that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is generally safe and well-tolerated for people with heart conditions. Studies indicate that both Progressive HIIT (PRO-HIIT) and Constant HIIT (CON-HIIT) can improve heart health with a low risk of serious side effects.

For PRO-HIIT, evidence suggests it enhances heart and lung fitness. Many individuals with heart issues have reported feeling better after engaging in HIIT. Supervision during exercise helps participants feel safe.

For CON-HIIT, research shows it is safe and effective for improving heart fitness. Studies found it rarely leads to major heart-related problems. Both types of HIIT have demonstrated benefits for people with heart conditions without causing many serious side effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the HIIT programs for cardiac rehabilitation because they offer a new approach to improving heart health. Unlike traditional cardiac rehab programs, which often involve steady-state exercise, these HIIT programs incorporate intervals of high-intensity exercise. The Progressive HIIT (PRO-HIIT) program is particularly unique because it adjusts the number and duration of intervals over a 12-week period, potentially leading to better adaptability and cardiovascular benefits. This method could enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation, offering patients a more dynamic and potentially more impactful recovery experience.

What evidence suggests that this trial's HIIT programs could be effective for cardiac rehabilitation?

This trial will compare two types of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for cardiac rehabilitation: Progressive High Intensity Interval Training (PRO-HIIT) and Constant High Intensity Interval Training (CON-HIIT). Studies have shown that HIIT can greatly improve heart and lung function in individuals undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. Specifically, research indicates that PRO-HIIT boosts fitness and quality of life, with evidence suggesting better peak oxygen uptake, a key fitness measure. Similarly, studies have found that CON-HIIT offers improvements in heart and lung function and overall fitness. Both types of HIIT generally prove more effective than moderate-intensity exercise for those in cardiac rehabilitation, and HIIT is associated with a positive outlook for heart health recovery. ^{3 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Amanda R Bonikowske, PhD

Principal Investigator

Mayo Clinic

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 who speak English and can consent to participate. It's specifically for those with certain heart conditions like acute coronary syndrome or stable angina, who are recommended non-surgical cardiac rehab. People post-heart surgery, with heart devices, or unable to do structured exercise aren't eligible.

Inclusion Criteria

I need heart rehab for a condition that didn't require surgery.

Able to provide consent

English speaking

Exclusion Criteria

Patients who are unable to engage in a regularly structured exercise training program as part of a clinically indicated center-based outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program are not eligible

I was referred to cardiac rehab after heart surgery or because I have a ventricular assist device.

Patients unable/unwilling to provide informed consent will not be enrolled

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo a 12-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program with either progressive or standard-care interval training approaches

12 weeks

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in cardiorepiratory fitness, oxygen uptake, and other health metrics

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Constant High Intensity Interval Training (CON-HIIT)
• Progressive High Intensity Interval Training (PRO-HIIT)

Trial Overview The study compares two types of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in cardiac rehab: Constant HIIT (CON-HIIT) and Progressive HIIT (PRO-HIIT). The goal is to see which one better improves fitness levels, heart function, and muscle oxygen uptake.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Progressive interval-training group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Subjects will complete an interval-training program during which the number of intervals and the duration of each interval are changed across the 12-week cardiac rehabilitation program.

Group II: Standard-care interval-training group Active Control 1 Intervention

Subjects will complete a standard interval-training program that remains constant for the entire 12 weeks of cardiac rehabilitation.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mayo Clinic

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,427

Recruited

3,221,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 238 patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation after acute coronary syndrome, exercise intensity significantly increased over 8 weeks, indicating improved functional capacity.

Patients experienced lower perceived exertion and heart rates at higher exercise intensities, suggesting that they could handle more intense workouts without feeling as fatigued, which is beneficial for their recovery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Progression of aerobic exercise intensity in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Amorim, H., Cadilha, R., Parada, F., et al.[2021]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a safe and effective alternative to traditional moderate-intensity training for older patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly in cardiac rehabilitation settings.

HIIT can lead to significant improvements in peak oxygen uptake (Vo2) and overall cardiovascular health in older adults with conditions like coronary artery disease and heart failure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-Intensity Interval Training in Cardiac Rehabilitation. Dun, Y., Smith, JR., Liu, S., et al.[2020]

High-interval intensity training (HIT) significantly improves peak VO2 in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart failure (HF), with HF patients showing a greater increase in peak VO2 after training.

For optimal results in HF patients, recovery intervals should be active and maintained between 40% and 60% of peak VO2, and training frequency should be at least 3 days per week, while CAD patients benefit from a minimum of 2 days per week.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-intensity Interval Training Dosage for Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease Cardiac Rehabilitation. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ballesta García, I., Rubio Arias, JÁ., Ramos Campo, DJ., et al.[2019]

Higher-intensity interval training (HIIT) was safely integrated into a standard cardiac rehabilitation program for 39 patients, with no hospitalizations reported during or after exercise, indicating its safety for patients with stable coronary heart disease.

HIIT led to a significantly greater improvement in peak oxygen uptake (3.6 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (1.7 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹), demonstrating its efficacy in enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Greater improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness using higher-intensity interval training in the standard cardiac rehabilitation setting. Keteyian, SJ., Hibner, BA., Bronsteen, K., et al.[2022]

In a 12-week cardiac rehabilitation program involving 82 male patients, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) combined with continuous endurance training (CET) led to greater reductions in ventilatory equivalents for oxygen (EqO2) and carbon dioxide (EqCO2) compared to CET alone, particularly at higher exercise intensities.

Both HIIT+CET and CET were equally effective in managing blood lactate levels, indicating that while HIIT may enhance certain aspects of exercise performance, it does not lead to increased lactate accumulation during high-intensity efforts.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of high-intensity interval training on trajectories of gas-exchange measures and blood lactate concentrations during cardiopulmonary exercise tests in cardiac rehabilitation-A randomized controlled trial. Heber, S., Gleiss, A., Kuzdas-Sallaberger, M., et al.[2023]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is as effective, if not more so, than traditional moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) for patients with cardiovascular disease, based on a systematic review of 23 studies involving 1117 participants.

The safety profile of HIIT in cardiac rehabilitation is promising, with only one major cardiovascular adverse event reported per 17,083 training sessions, indicating that HIIT can be safely implemented in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-Intensity Interval Training for Patients With Cardiovascular Disease-Is It Safe? A Systematic Review. Wewege, MA., Ahn, D., Yu, J., et al.[2021]

A scoping review of 69 studies on high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in older adults found that HIIT protocols are generally well-tolerated and can provide significant health benefits, particularly in improving cardiorespiratory fitness.

Most research has focused on healthy older adults, highlighting a need for larger studies and more investigation into HIIT's effects on older adults with various health conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-Intensity Interval Training in Older Adults: a Scoping Review. Marriott, CFS., Petrella, AFM., Marriott, ECS., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 382 patients with coronary artery disease, low-volume high-intensity interval training (HIIT) significantly improved cardiorespiratory fitness more than moderate-intensity steady-state (MISS) exercise over an 8-week period, with an average increase of 2.37 mL.kg-1.min-1 for HIIT compared to 1.32 mL.kg-1.min-1 for MISS.

The study found that low-volume HIIT is safe and well-tolerated, with only one serious adverse event possibly related to HIIT, suggesting it can be a beneficial alternative or addition to traditional exercise programs in cardiac rehabilitation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-intensity interval training in cardiac rehabilitation: a multi-centre randomized controlled trial. McGregor, G., Powell, R., Begg, B., et al.[2023]

In a study of 81 heart disease patients with very high cardiovascular risk, both moderate and high-intensity interval training (MIIT and HIIT) were found to be safe, with no adverse outcomes reported during the training.

While there were no statistically significant differences in overall exercise improvements between the training types, the HIIT group showed a trend towards greater improvements in exercise tolerance, suggesting it may be more effective than continuous moderate intensity training (MICT).

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety and improvement in exercise tolerance with interval training vs moderate-intensity continuous training in heart disease patient of very high cardiovascular risk. Pineda-García, AD., Lara-Vargas, JA., Ku-González, A., et al.[2022]

Low-volume high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a feasible and well-tolerated option for patients with chronic heart failure, showing similar improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and functional capacity compared to continuous aerobic exercise over a 6-month period.

Both training methods resulted in significant improvements in peak oxygen uptake and functional measures like sit-to-stand and gait speed, but neither method led to changes in quality of life or heart rate variability, indicating that while HIIT is effective, it does not outperform traditional aerobic training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Low-volume high-intensity interval training vs continuous aerobic cycling in patients with chronic heart failure: a pragmatic randomised clinical trial of feasibility and effectiveness. Koufaki, P., Mercer, TH., George, KP., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6760312/

High-Intensity Interval Training in Cardiac Rehabilitation - PMC All reviewed studies demonstrated that both MICT and HIIT led to improvements in peak VO2,4–6,12,13,33,36 oxygen pulse, ventilatory efficiency ( ...

2. cardiothoracicsurgery.biomedcentral.com cardiothoracicsurgery.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13019-025-03543-2

Effects of high-intensity interval training on cardiopulmonary ... HIIT significantly improves cardiopulmonary function and quality of life in post-PCI or CABG CHD patients. From the cardiovascular perspective, ...

3. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/eurjpc/article/30/9/745/7031580

High-intensity interval training in cardiac rehabilitation: a multi ... High-intensity interval training was more effective than moderate-intensity exercise training for improving cardiorespiratory fitness in people ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003999323005294

Cost-effectiveness of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) ... In people with CAD attending CR, the HIIT or MISS UK trial showed that HIIT is safe and more clinically effective than MISS for improving cardiorespiratory ...

5. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2769884

Short-term and Long-term Feasibility, Safety, and Efficacy ... Findings In this randomized clinical trial including 93 participants, cardiorespiratory fitness significantly improved by 10% with HIIT compared ...

6. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36753063/

High-intensity interval training in cardiac rehabilitation Low-volume HIIT is a safe, well-tolerated, and clinically effective intervention that produces short-term improvement in cardiorespiratory ...

7. ahajournals.org ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.118.009305

High‐Intensity Interval Training for Patients With ... HIIT has shown a relatively low rate of major adverse cardiovascular events for patients with coronary artery disease or heart failure when applied within CR ...

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147956323002844

Physiological and psychological outcomes of high intensity ... HIIT has been shown to be both safe and effective for improving cardiovascular fitness in both coronary artery disease and HF patients. Objectives. To provide a ...