Why the study?
Although high-intensity interval training improves physical performance in endurance athletes, studies examining its cardiovascular effects are sparse.
Does 6 weeks of high-intensity interval training alter ambulatory blood pressure and cardiac remodeling in endurance-trained males?
Does 6 weeks of high-intensity interval training alter ambulatory blood pressure and cardiac remodeling in endurance-trained males?
Six weeks of HIIT in endurance-trained males reduces ambulatory blood pressure but induces cardiac remodeling, including increased left atrial volumes and, at submaximal intensities, reduced right ventricular systolic function.
HIIT may lower BP yet enlarge LA and impair RV function in trained athletes; leaves open long-term safety and optimal dosing.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) improves physical performance of endurance athletes, although studies examining its cardiovascular effects are sparse. We evaluated the impact of HIIT on blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac cavities size and function in endurance-trained adults. Seventeen endurance-trained males underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and Doppler echocardiography at baseline and after 6 weeks of HIIT. Participants were divided in 2 groups (85% maximal aerobic power (MP); HIIT 85 , n=8 and 115% MP; HIIT 115 , n = 9) in order to compare the impact of different HIIT intensities. ABPM and cardiac chambers size and function were similar between groups at baseline. HIIT reduced heart rate (55 ± 8 vs. 51 ± 7 bpm; p= 0.003), systolic blood pressure (SBP; 121 ± 11 vs 118 ± 9 mmHg; p = 0.01), mean arterial pressure (MAP; 90 ± 8 vs 89 ± 6 mmHg; p = 0.03) and pulse pressure (52 ± 6 vs 49 ± 5 mmHg; p = 0.01), irrespective of training intensity. Left atrium (LA) volumes increased after HIIT (maximal: 50 ± 14 vs 54 ±14 ml; p= 0.02; minimal: 15 ± 5 vs 20 ± 8 ml; p = 0.01) in both groups. Right ventricle (RV) global longitudinal strain lowered after training in the HIIT 85 group only (20 ± 4 vs. 17 ± 3%, p = 0.04). In endurance-trained males, six weeks of HIIT reduce SBP and MAP and increase LA volumes irrespective of training intensity, whereas submaximal HIIT deteriorates RV systolic function. Key points High-intensity interval training improves physical performance of endurance athletes, although studies examining its cardiovascular effects are sparse. We evaluated the impact of submaximal (85% maximal aerobic power) and supramaximal (115% maximal aerobic power) high-intensity interval training on ambulatory blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac cavities size and function in endurance-trained adults. Irrespective of training intensity, six weeks of high-intensity interval training increase left atrial volumes in endurance-trained adults, whereas the submaximal training decreases right ventricular systolic function. These results may help identify the exercise threshold for potential toxicity of intense exercise training for at-risk individuals and ideal exercise training regimens conferring optimal cardiovascular protection and adapted endurance training for athletes.
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Mahjoub et al. (2019) studied this question.
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