Key result
High-intensity interval training significantly improved blood pressure, resting heart rate, and cardiac structural parameters compared to no exercise or conventional therapy across diverse populations.
Why the study?
Overlapping studies and a lack of systematic synthesis have hindered understanding of the full effects and optimal prescription of high-intensity interval training for cardiovascular benefits.
Does high-intensity interval training improve cardiovascular structure, function, and hemodynamics compared to no exercise or other exercise modalities in diverse populations?
Systematic Review
Does high-intensity interval training improve cardiovascular structure, function, and hemodynamics compared to no exercise or other exercise modalities in diverse populations?
Mean Difference: -5.43 (95% CI -8.82–-2.04)
HIIT is effective for improving cardiac structure and volume with comparable benefits to blood pressure and heart rate across various patient populations compared to other exercise modalities, though clinical screening is necessary to manage safety risks.
Supports HIIT for BP and cardiac parameters in diverse groups; reinforces prior meta-analyses with broader synthesis.
Objectives: Despite considerable evidence on high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for cardiovascular benefits, overlapping studies and lack of systematic synthesis hinder understanding of its full effects and optimal prescription. This umbrella review synthesizes evidence and summarizes the cardiovascular benefits of HIIT across diverse populations. Methods: We searched Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for systematic reviews and meta-analyses on effects of HIIT on cardiovascular health. Evidence was stratified by population type, overlapping evidence was handled by predefined criteria, quality was assessed using AMSTAR 2, and results were visualized using forest plots. Results: Initially, 1017 studies were retrieved, of which 54 were included. The results revealed that HIIT significantly improved blood pressure (SBP: -5.43 to -2.73 mmHg; DBP: -4.35 to -2.41 mmHg), resting heart rate (-4.35 to -2.17 bpm), and left ventricular ejection fraction (3.51% to 5.52%). Compared with other exercise modalities such as moderate-intensity continuous training, HIIT showed significant improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction (3.13% to 3.24%), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (-4.69 to -2.55 mm), and flow-mediated dilation (0.35% to 2.57%), with comparable effects on blood pressure and heart rate. Conclusion: HIIT demonstrates advantages over other exercise modalities in improving cardiac structure and volume, with comparable effects on blood pressure and heart rate. These benefits were observed across cardiovascular, metabolic, and apparently healthy populations. However, the current evidence does not support protocol-specific recommendations such as long-interval versus short-interval HIIT, and direct comparisons of different HIIT protocols are needed.
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Du et al. (2026) conducted a systematic review in Cardiovascular health in diverse populations. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs. No exercise, conventional therapy, or other exercise modalities (e.g., moderate-intensity continuous training) was evaluated on Systolic blood pressure (SBP) in patients with cardiovascular disease versus no exercise or conventional therapy (MD -5.43 mmHg, 95% CI -8.82 to -2.04). High-intensity interval training significantly improved blood pressure, resting heart rate, and cardiac structural parameters compared to no exercise or conventional therapy across diverse populations.
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