Overview of exercise interventions
| Reference, country | Exercise intervention | |||||
| Exercise | Modality | Study duration | Session duration/frequency/intensity | Additional | Control (comparator) | |
| Aronov et al,39 Russia | Moderate intensity physical training (unknown setting). | Cycle ergometer. | 12 months | 45–60 min/three sessions per week/50%–60% of the performed capacity by bicycle ergometry. | None specified. | Standard medical therapy. |
| Belardinelli et al,32 Italy | Moderate intensity exercise (supervised in hospital gym). | Cycle ergometer. | 6 months | 53 min/three sessions per week/60% of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). | None specified. | Recommended to perform basic daily mild physical activities but to avoid any physical training. |
| Briffa et al,40 Australia | Aerobic circuit training (supervised in hospital). | Aerobic circuit training. | 6 weeks | 60–90 min/three sessions per week/not specified. | Education and psychosocial counselling. | Education, pharmacotherapy and lifestyle counselling. |
| Giallauria et al,33 Italy | Moderate intensity exercise (supervised in centre). | Cycle ergometer. | 6 months | 40 min/three sessions per week/60%–70% of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). | None specified. | Generic instructions on maintaining physical activity and a correct lifestyle. |
| Hambrecht et al,30 Germany | Moderate intensity exercise (supervised in hospital and unsupervised at home). | Cycle ergometer. | 12 months | 10 min, 42 sessions per week (hospital), 20 min, seven sessions per week (home) plus 60 min group training, one session per week/70% of symptom-limited max HR. | None specified. | Standard medical therapy. |
| Higgins et al,41 Australia | Moderate intensity walking programme (unsupervised at home). | Walking. | Not specified | Not specified/not specified/not specified. | Psychological plus education. | Psychological support, education, counselling and guidance. |
| Houle et al,42 Canada | Pedometer-based walking programme (unsupervised at home). | Walking. | 12 months | Not specified/not specified/not specified. | Education plus sociocognitive. | Sociocognitive support and advice regarding physical activity, diet and medication. |
| Kovoor et al,43 Australia | Standard cardiac rehabilitation programme (unknown setting). | Not specified. | 5 weeks | Not specified/2–4 sessions per week/not specified. | Education and counselling. | Encouraged to exercise at home and return to normal activities. |
| Maddison et al,44 New Zealand | Automated package of text messages to increase exercise behaviour (unsupervised at home). | Moderate to vigourous aerobic exercise, for example, walking and household chores. | 24 weeks | Minimum of 30 min/at least five sessions per week/not specified. | Optional access to other CR service or support. | Behaviour change therapy, encouragement to be physically active and advice to attend a cardiac club. |
| Maroto Montero et al,34 Spain | Individualised physical training (supervised in hospital gym). | Physiotherapy and aerobic training on mats or a cycle ergometer. | 3 months | 60 min/three sessions per week/75%–85% max HR. | Psychological support, education plus return to work counselling. | Psychological support, education plus return to work counselling. |
| Munk et al,35 Norway | Moderate/high intensity interval training (supervised in centre). | Cycle ergometer or running. | 6 months | 60 min/three sessions per week/60%–70% and 80%–90% max HR. | Spine and abdominal resistance training. | Usual care, including drug therapy. |
| Mutwalli et al,45 Saudi Arabia | Moderate intensity walking programme (unsupervised at home). | Walking. | 6 months | 30 min/seven sessions per week/not specified. | Education. | Education, standard hospital care |
| Oerkild et al,36 Denmark | Moderate intensity exercise (unsupervised at home). | Individualised. | 12 months | 30 min/six sessions per week/11–13 on the Borg Scale. | Risk factor management. | Usual care, no exercise education or dietary counselling. |
| Reid et al,46 Canada | Internet-based physical activity plan and motivational tool to increase physical activity (unsupervised at home). | Not specified. | 20 weeks | Not specified/not specified/not specified. | None specified. | Online education, physical activity guidance and an education booklet. |
| Santaularia et al,29 Spain | Outpatient exercise training programme (supervised in hospital). | Cycle ergometer. | 10 weeks | 60 min/three sessions per week/75%–90% max HR (RPE 11–15 on Borg Scale) | Resistance training, education and risk factor management. | Standard care, risk factor management, guidance on physical activity and adherence to medication. |
| Seki et al,47 Japan | Moderate intensity aerobic exercise (supervised in centre and unsupervised at home). | Walking, cycle ergometer and jogging. | 6 months | 50–110 min, one session per week (centre), ≥30 min, two sessions per week (home)/12–13 on the standard Borg Scale. | Education. | Education and outpatient follow-up with physician. |
| Toobert et al,48 USA | Walking or aerobics (supervised in centre and unsupervised at home). | Walking or aerobics. | 24 months | 60 min, seven sessions per week (centre), 60 min, three sessions per week (home)/individually prescribed. | Education and psychological support. | Cooking classes, stress management and education. |
| Vestfold Heartcare Study Group,37 Norway | Dynamic endurance physical activity (supervised, group sessions in centre). | Dynamic endurance training. | 15 weeks | 55 min/two sessions per week/RPE 11–13 on the Borg Scale, increased to 13–15 after 6 weeks. | Education and psychological support. | Education and psychological support. |
| Wang et al,49 China | Not specified. | Not specified. | Not specified | Not specified/not specified/not specified. | Education. | Education. |
| West et al,31 UK | Not specified, multicentre (supervised in centre). | Varied by centre (exercise equipment in physiotherapy gyms). | 6–8 weeks | Averaged 20 hours over 6–8 weeks/1–2 sessions per week/not specified. | Education plus psychological support. | Education plus psychological support. |
| Yu et al,50 China | Ambulatory and aerobic cardiovascular training (supervised in hospital and centre, unsupervised at home). | Walking, treadmill, cycle ergometry, rowing, stepper, arm ergometry and dumbbell | 8 1/2 months | 2 hours/two sessions per week (centre), not specified (home)/65%–85% of maximal aerobic capacity (VO2peak). | Resistance training and education. | Conventional medical therapy and education. |
| Zwisler et al,38 Denmark | Intensive CR programme (supervised in centre). | Not specified. | 6 weeks | Not specified/two sessions per week/not specified. | Education and psychosocial support. | Education and psychosocial support. |
CR, cardiac rehabilitation; HR, heart rate; RPE, rating of perceived exertion; VO2 Peak, peak oxygen uptake.