Clinical InvestigationOutcomes, Health Policy, and Managed CareAerobic interval training versus continuous moderate exercise after coronary artery bypass surgery: A randomized study of cardiovascular effects and quality of life
Section snippets
Patients
Coronary artery bypass grafting patients referred to a residential rehabilitation center 4 to 16 weeks postoperatively were included. Exclusion criteria were heart failure, inability to exercise, or drug abuse.
Exercise training
The aerobic exercise training program consisted of treadmill walking, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Patients were randomized to either AIT or MCT. Aerobic interval training consisted of 8 minutes warm-up, followed by 4 times of 4-minute intervals with HR at 90% of maximum HR, with active
Participant flow and protocol deviations
We recruited patients between April 2004 and November 2006 (Figure 1). Baseline characteristics of the 2 groups were well balanced (Table I). There were no major complications or cardiac events during the study period. One patient was excluded after randomization to MCT because of a large pericardial effusion that had not been discovered at the time of allocation. Oxygen uptake data on one patient in the AIT group were excluded from the analysis because of a technical error in the measurement.
Discussion
Our main finding was that both AIT and MCT training groups showed a significant increase in Vo2peak, HR recovery, and quality of life after a 4-week intense rehabilitation program (at 4w). At follow-up 6 months from discharge (6m), the AIT group showed a further increase in Vo2peak, whereas MCT did not.
Based on previous studies,4, 5, 6,14 we had hypothesized that AIT would increase Vo2peak more than MCT. After 4 weeks of exercise training, there was slight evidence for a greater increase in Vo
Conclusions
Vo2peak and HR recovery increased significantly after a brief but intense exercise program of both moderate continuous exercise training (MCT) and AIT in coronary artery bypass patients. Aerobic interval training was superior to MCT in increasing Vo2peak and HR recovery 6 months after ending the formal program. Quality of life increased significantly after 4 weeks of rehabilitation and remained improved for 6 months in both training groups.
Acknowledgements
We are sincerely indebted to the great work of Dr Ole Christen Haanæs who died during the study period. Great thanks to the patients and staff at Røros Rehabilitation Center for excellent cooperation and to Tomas Stølen for collection of data.
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