High-intensity Exercise Training in Patients With Post-infarction Heart Failure

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Introduction: Moderate-intensity endurance-training is known to reduce symptoms, increase exercise tolerance, and improve quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure. The training benefits have mainly been attributed to adaptations in the peripheral circulation and skeletal muscle rather than to adaptations in cardiac performance. However attenuation of left ventricular (LV) remodelling has been documented in some studies. The effects of high- vs. moderate exercise-intensity on LV-remodelling and endothelial function in patients with post-infarction heart failure are not definitively established and were studied in the present study. Methods: Patients with post-infarction heart failure (45-87 yrs, 22-males, 5-females, all received b-blockers and ACE-inhibitors, EF 29%, peak oxygen uptake 13 ml/kg/min) were randomized to 12-weeks, 2-3 times per week, of either moderate exercise-intensity (70% of peak heart rate), high-intensity interval-training (95% of peak heart rate) or to a control group that received advise from their regular doctors. Patients in the two exercise-groups covered similar distance on the treadmill at each exercise-session so that only exercise-intensity differed; i.e. the duration of exercise was longer in the moderate-intensity group. Ultrasound was used to assess LV-dimension and function (including Tissue Doppler Imaging, TDI) and endothelial function in the brachial-artery.

Official Title
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Anti-remodeling Effect of High-intensity Interval Training in Patients With Post-infarction Heart Failure on Optimal Treatment

Conditions
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Heart Failure, Myocardial Infarction

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Moderate intensity exercise training
* Behavioral: High intensity exercise training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Post-infarction heart failure and optimal treatment (ACE-inhibitors, Beta-blockade) Exclusion Criteria: Not able to walk on a treadmill, unstable angina, participating in another experiment, serious arrhythmia

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: moderate exercise training<br> | Behavioral: Moderate intensity exercise training<br>* 12-weeks, 2-3 times per week moderate exercise-intensity (70% of peak heart rate)<br>|
| Experimental: high intensity exercise training<br> | Behavioral: High intensity exercise training<br>* 12-weeks, 2-3 times per week high-intensity interval-training (95% of peak heart rate)<br>|
| No Intervention: controls<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remodelling of heart function and structure |  | 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Improved endothelial and skeletal muscle as well as quality of life |  | 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Interval training, Endothelial dysfunction, Aerobic capacity, Exercise