June 13, 2025Frontiers in PhysiologyOpen Access

Effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on cardiopulmonary function, body composition, and physical function in cancer survivors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Meta-Analysis. Population: Cancer survivors. Intervention: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs. Moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). Primary outcome: VO2 peak (Peak Oxygen Uptake) (SMD 0.53, 95% CI 0.21, 0.84, p=0.001).

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Key result

HIIT improves VO2 peak compared to MICT in cancer survivors.

SMD 0.53
95% CI 0.21, 0.84
P=0.001

Why the study?

Long-term health management challenges such as reduced cardiopulmonary function, fatigue, and metabolic dysregulation remain formidable in cancer survivors, warranting a comparison of exercise modalities to guide individualized prescriptions.

Does high-intensity interval training (HIIT) improve VO2 peak, body composition, and physical function compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in cancer survivors?

Population

Cancer survivors across 12 RCTs (breast, colorectal, and mixed cancer types)

Comparison

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT)

Design

Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Authors

CPChenggen PengHunan Agricultural Products (China)MHMing HuChina Animal Disease Control Center LYLin-Lin YangHunan International Economics University

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Supports HIIT over MICT to improve VO2 peak in cancer survivors; extends Level 1 meta-analytic evidence for intensity-specific exercise.

Study Design

Type

Meta-Analysis

Structured PICO

Does high-intensity interval training (HIIT) improve VO2 peak, body composition, and physical function compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in cancer survivors?

Population

A meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials including adult cancer survivors aged 39 to 75 years, comparing the effects of 3 to 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity continuous training.

Intervention

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) (e.g., 80%-95% of maximum heart rate), 3-12 weeks duration, 2-5 days per week, 10-75 min per session.

Comparator

Moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) (e.g., 50%-70% of maximum heart rate).

Outcome

VO2 peak (Peak Oxygen Uptake)surrogate

Main Result

Standardized Mean Difference: 0.53 (95% CI 0.21–0.84)

p-value: p=0.001

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is superior to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in enhancing VO2 peak and cardiopulmonary function in cancer survivors, while yielding comparable outcomes in body composition and physical function.

Limitations

Limited number of included studies and participants
Study heterogeneity, including inconsistencies in HIIT and MICT intervention protocols
Uneven distribution of cancer types in the study population, dominated by breast and colorectal cancers
Potential publication bias and lack of long-term follow-up data
Inability to implement participant blinding due to the nature of the exercise interventions
Lack of subgroup analysis due to the limited number of studies
Survival or recurrence rates were not directly analyzed
Variability in the quantity and quality of the included studies
Lack of blinding in included studies
High risk of bias in some included studies
Most studies focused on breast and colorectal cancer survivors, limiting generalizability to other cancer types

Cite This Study

Peng et al. (2025) conducted a meta-analysis in Cancer survivors. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs. Moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) was evaluated on VO2 peak (Peak Oxygen Uptake) (SMD 0.53, 95% CI 0.21, 0.84, p=0.001). High-intensity interval training significantly improved peak oxygen uptake (SMD 0.53) compared to moderate-intensity continuous training in cancer survivors.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a1fde3c190e6e8d8e4307f2 https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2025.1594574

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Effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on cardiopulmonary function, body composition, and physical function in cancer survivors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Cite This Study

Effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on cardiopulmonary function, body composition, and physical function in cancer survivors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider