High intensity interval training decreases progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy in heart transplant recipients - a randomized controlled trial

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in heart transplant recipients

“…This improvement was thought to be as a function of favourable skeletal muscle adaptations that result in increased oxygen utilisation by the active muscles (Haykowsky 2009). Furthermore, results from several randomised trials suggest that high-intensity interval training is safe in heart transplant recipients (Haykowsky 2009;Nytrøen 2012), and leads to superior improvements in peak oxygen uptake compared with moderate exercise .…”

“…Five studies were undertaken in Europe (Bernardi 2007;Nytrøen 2012;Tegtbur 2005), two in the USA (Braith 2008;Kobashigawa 1999a) and one each in Canada (Haykowsky 2009), Brazil (Pascoalino 2015) and Taiwan (Wu 2008). All studies were relatively small in sample size (median: N = 30.5, range: 16 to 52); the median length of follow up was 12 (range 8 to 52) weeks.…”

“…All studies were relatively small in sample size (median: N = 30.5, range: 16 to 52); the median length of follow up was 12 (range 8 to 52) weeks. Included study participants were generally described as clinically stable and were excluded from the study if they had signs or symptoms of cardiorespiratory disease (Bernardi 2007), tissue rejection (Bernardi 2007;Pascoalino 2015), severe coronary allogra vasculopathy , or the need for revascularisation or other intervention (Nytrøen 2012). The median age of study participants was 54.4 years (range 45 years to 60.6 years).…”

“…The exercise programmes were mostly delivered in centre-based settings, two studies included a combination of home-and centrebased exercise sessions (Nytrøen 2012;Pascoalino 2015). Three studies were directed in home-based settings (Bernardi 2007 Tegtbur 2003;Wu 2008).…”

“…Six studies (60%) were judged to provide evidence of adequate random sequence generation Haykowsky 2009;Nytrøen 2012;Pascoalino 2015); only two studies (20%) reported appropriate concealment of allocation methods .…”