Aerobic interval training and continuous training equally improve aerobic exercise capacity in patients with coronary artery disease: the SAINTEX-CAD study.

Abstract Background Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation increases peak oxygen uptake (peak VO 2 ), which is an important predictor of mortality in cardiac patients. However, it remains unclear which exercise characteristics are most effective for improving peak VO 2 in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Proof of concept papers comparing Aerobic Interval Training (AIT) and Moderate Continuous Training (MCT) were conducted in small sample sizes and findings were inconsistent and heterogeneous. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of AIT and Aerobic Continuous Training (ACT) on peak VO 2 , peripheral endothelial function, cardiovascular risk factors, quality of life and safety, in a large multicentre study. Methods Two-hundred CAD patients (LVEF >40%, 90% men, mean age 58.4±9.1years) were randomized to a supervised 12-week cardiac rehabilitation programme of three weekly sessions of either AIT (90–95% of peak heart rate (HR)) or ACT (70–75% of peak HR) on a bicycle. Primary outcome was peak VO 2 ; secondary outcomes were peripheral endothelial function, cardiovascular risk factors, quality of life and safety. Results Peak VO 2 (ml/kg/min) increased significantly in both groups (AIT 22.7±17.6% versus ACT 20.3±15.3%; p-time Conclusions Contrary to earlier smaller trials, we observed similar improvements in exercise capacity and peripheral endothelial function following AIT and ACT in a large population of CAD patients.