Effect of High Intensity Interval Training on Health Related Quality of Life in De Novo Heart Transplant Recipients-The HITTS Study

Abstract

Purpose A main goal after heart transplantation (HTx) is to achieve good health related quality of life (HRQoL). Exercise training after heart transplantation (HTx) is recommended and high-intensity interval training (HIT) seem to be more effective than moderate continuous training (MICT). Studies on the effect of HIT vs. MICT on HRQoL is scarce, and no studies among de novo HTx recipients exist. Methods Eighty-one de novo HTx recipients were included and were randomized 1:1 to either HIT or MICT. HRQoL was assessed by the Short Form-36 (SF-36v2), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at baseline (mean 11 weeks after surgery) and at 1-yr follow- up, additionally, participants reported their overall health on a numeric visual analouge scale after the intervention period. SF-36 scores were calculated using norm based values with a standardized mean of 50±10. All patients underwent a clinical examination and physical tests. Results At 1-yr follow-up 78 patients were retested. Both groups had significant improvements on the physical function components of HRQoL the first year after HTx, while mental health, anxiety and depression scores remain unchanged. There were no serious adverse events related to exercise in either of the groups during the intervention period. Mean ± SD age for the total population was 49±13 years, 73% were men. There was no significant difference between HIT and MICT in seven of the eight SF-36 subscales, in physical component summary score (PCS) or mental component summary score (MCS). However, there was a statistical significant positive change in the role emotional (RE) subscale mean score in the HIT group compared to the MICT group (Table 1). Conclusion From baseline to 1-yr follow-up HIT vs. MICT resulted in similar mean changes in HRQoL, except from on the SF-36 RE subscale. Both groups had significant improvements in PF, RP and PCS,suggesting that exercise training improves some areas of the multidimensional concept of HRQoL.