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High Intensity Interval Training vs Moderate Intensity and Continuous Training in Chronic Heart Failure

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Chronic Heart Failure
Interventions
Behavioral: exercise training in heart failure with HIIT
Registration Number
NCT03603743
Lead Sponsor
Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center of Saint Orens
Brief Summary

Purpose: Exaggerated sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity associated with low heart rate variability (HRV) is considered as a trigger of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. Regular exercise training is efficient to improve autonomic balance. In 2013, the investigators published that a single session of an optimized short-high intensity interval exercise with passive recovery (HIIT) protocol was efficient in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients for enhancing vagal tone and to decrease arrhythmias in the 24-h post exercise period when compared to a single session of moderate intensity continuous exercise (MICT). Nevertheless the effects of HIIT training performed on several weeks have never yet been studied on the parameters described by Coumel's triangle (the arrhythmogenic substrate, the trigger factor as premature ventricular contraction and the modulation factors of which the most common is the autonomic nervous system). The aim of this study was to verify the superiority of HIIT to enhance parasympathetic activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiac function when compared to MICT in a short and intense cardiac rehabilitation program.

Detailed Description

Before and after the Rehabilitation Program (RP), all patients underwent a 24-hour ECG recording, an echocardiography, a cardiopulmonary exercise test.

The RP consisted of 2 types of exercise training according to the randomization:

1. a short-high intensity interval exercise with passive recovery

2. a classical moderate and continuous exercise training at 60% of peak power output

The RP lasted 4 weeks.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
32
Inclusion Criteria
  • stable chronic heart failure with NYHA functional class from I to III
  • stable left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 45% over at least 6 months
  • stable optimal medical therapy including a beta-blocker and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blockers for at least 6 weeks
  • ability to perform a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test
  • admitted to the Rehabilitation Centre for a comprehensive Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program
Exclusion Criteria
  • any relative or absolute contraindications to exercise training according to current recommendations
  • fixed-rate pacemaker with heart rate limits set lower than exercise training target
  • major cardiovascular event or procedure within the 3 months preceding enrolment
  • chronic atrial fibrillation
  • heart failure secondary to significant uncorrected primary valve disease (except for mitral regurgitation secondary to left ventricular dysfunction)
  • heart failure secondary to congenital heart disease or obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
high intensity interval trainingexercise training in heart failure with HIIThigh intensity interval training: two sets of 8-min intervals at 100% of peak power output (PPO). Each interval set was composed of repeated bouts of 30 s at 100% of PPO interspersed by 30 s of passive recovery in the seated position. Four minutes of passive recovery were allowed between the two sets.
moderate intensity and continuous exerciseexercise training in heart failure with HIITmoderate intensity and continuous exercise: 30 minutes at 60% of PPO.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
High Frequency power in normalized units (HFnu%)Change from baseline through study completion, an average of 4 weeks (measured during the night period for stationary signal)

based on Heart Rate Variability, the power spectral density of the HF (0.15-0.40 Hz, ms2.Hz-1) bands were calculated.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak ml.min.kg)Change from baseline through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

VO2 at peak exercise was measured with Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test.

First ventilatory threshold (VT1) (ml.min.kg)Change from baseline through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

VO2 at VT1 was measured with Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test.

Heart Rate Recovery (beats per minute, bpm)Change from baseline through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

Heart Rate Recovery (with passive recovery) at 1, 2 and 3 minutes after peak exercise (in beats per minute, bpm)

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF, %)Change from baseline through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

LV volumes and ejection fraction were calculated from apical recordings by modified biplane Simpson's method.

premature ventricular contraction, (n/24h)Change from baseline through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

Ectopic ventricular beats were classified as isolated premature contractions, bigeminy, and salves.

NT-pro-BNP, (ng/L)Change from baseline through study completion, an average of 4 weeks

blood sample analysis

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