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June 12, 2026European Journal of Preventive CardiologyOpen Access

Pushing the limits: high-intensity training in cardiac rehabilitation - a single-center experience

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Why the study?

Despite the benefits of high-intensity interval training in cardiac rehabilitation, concerns remained regarding its safety and feasibility in this setting.

Does high-intensity interval training (HIIT) improve cardiometabolic and functional outcomes in phase II cardiac rehabilitation patients?

Population

90 phase II cardiac rehabilitation patients meeting predefined criteria

Comparison

High-intensity interval training vs historical control standard cardiac rehabilitation

Design

Single-center observational cohort study with historical controls

Key result

High-intensity interval training significantly increased peak VO2 compared to standard cardiac rehabilitation (3.47 vs. 0.86 mL/kg/min; p=0.01) without increasing serious adverse events.

Authors

MVM VilelaJCJ C CravoCSC S Silva

Discussion

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Overview

HIIT appears safe and feasible in phase II cardiac rehabilitation; leaves open cardiometabolic efficacy pending larger randomized trials.

Key Points

  • This study aims to evaluate the effects of high-intensity interval training on functional and cardiometabolic outcomes during cardiac rehabilitation.
  • Patients undergoing phase II cardiac rehabilitation with certain criteria were assigned to a HIIT program.
  • Compared with a historical control group who underwent standard rehabilitation from 2016 to 2024.
  • Assessment included functional tests such as the 6-minute walk test and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
  • HIIT group showed a significant increase in VO2 peak (3.47 ± 3.88 mL/kg/min vs. 0.86 ± 2.27 mL/kg/min; p = 0.01).
  • Improvement in the 6-minute walk test was not statistically significant between groups (HIIT: 75.7 ± 66.4 m vs. control: 99.2 ± 75.5 m; p = 0.217).
  • No serious adverse events reported with HIIT and minimal symptomatic episodes occurred.

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=90)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does high-intensity interval training (HIIT) improve cardiometabolic and functional outcomes in phase II cardiac rehabilitation patients?

P
Population
90 phase II cardiac rehabilitation patients with complete revascularization and no angina, comparing a high-intensity interval training program to a historical standard cardiac rehabilitation control group.
E
Exposure
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) program
C
Comparator
Historical control group of patients with similar baseline characteristics who underwent standard cardiac rehabilitation between 2016 and 2024
O
Outcome
Cardiometabolic and functional outcomes (specifically VO2 peak and 6-minute walk test distance) and safetysurrogate

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 3.47% vs 0.86%

p-value: p=0.01

High-intensity interval training safely optimizes exercise capacity, specifically VO2 peak, in appropriately selected phase II cardiac rehabilitation patients compared to standard rehabilitation.

Cite This Study

Vilela et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Phase II cardiac rehabilitation (n=90). High-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs. Standard cardiac rehabilitation (historical control) was evaluated on Increase in VO2 peak (p=0.01). High-intensity interval training significantly increased peak VO2 compared to standard cardiac rehabilitation (3.47 vs. 0.86 mL/kg/min; p=0.01) without increasing serious adverse events.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2bd1386550ea4541ffe9d4https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwag249.323
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