High-intensity interval training in de novo heart transplant recipients with long-term follow-up

Abstract

High-intensity interval training (HIT) is an effective method to increase VO2peak in maintenance heart transplant (HTx) recipients. There is limited evidence of HIT in the de novo HTx recipients, and the long-term effects of early initiation of HIT after HTx is unknown. The main aims of this thesis were to investigate the effects of HIT compared to moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) on VO2peak in de novo HTx recipients, with a 1-yr and a 3-yr follow-up. A secondary aim was to investigate pre-dictors for VO2peak in de novo HTx. At 1-yr follow-up there was a significantly higher mean change in VO2peak in the HIT group compared to the MICT group. The mean difference between groups was 1.8 mL/kg/min which is regarded as clinically meaningful. At 3-yrs follow-up, there was no longer a statistically significant mean difference between the groups in VO2peak. The mean difference between groups was still significant regarding muscular exercise capacity and the anaerobic threshold. HIT, performed decentralized instead of in the specialist health care setting, was found to be a safe and effective meth-od of exercise in this medically stable cohort of de novo HTx recipients, and showed also some sustainable long-term effects.