High-intensity interval training improves cardiovascular and physical health in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.
rct · Level II
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39179363.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108369 and PMC identifier 11672065.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have substantially elevated risk for cardiovascular diseases, and low cardiorespiratory fitness (VO<sub>2</sub>max) is a major mediator. The aim of this assessor-blinded, two-armed multicentre randomised controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and strength exercise on cardiovascular health, physical fitness and overall health in patients with RA. In total, 87 patients (86% female; aged 20-60 years) were randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). The IG performed HIIT and strength exercise for 12 weeks. The CG was instructed to be physically active on a moderately intensive level, ≥150 min/week. Primary outcome was change in VO<sub>2</sub>max. Secondary outcomes were changes in anthropometry measures, muscle strength, overall health (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)-Global), Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC), pain and disease activity (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28)). There was a significant mean group difference of change on VO<sub>2</sub>max (3.71 mL/kg/min; 95% CI 2.16, 5.25) in favour of the IG. Significant mean group differences of change were also seen for O<sub>2</sub>-pulse (1.38; 95% CI 0.85 to 1.91), waist circumference (-2.6; 95% CI -5.09 to -0.18), 1-minute sit-to-stand (5.0; 95% CI 3.35 to 6.72), handgrip strength (28.5; 95% CI 3.80 to 52.8), overall health (-14.7; 95% CI -23.8 to -5.50) and PGIC (p<0.0001) in favour of the IG. No significant mean group differences of change were found for pain (-4.0; 95% CI -13.07 to 5.06), DAS28 (-0.25; 95% CI -0.60 to 0.10) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (-0.64; 95% CI -3.23 to 1.90). Supervised HIIT and strength exercise improved cardiovascular health, physical fitness and overall health without a deterioration in pain and disease activity and should be considered in patients with well-controlled RA. NCT05768165.
Medical subject headings
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid
- High-Intensity Interval Training
- Cardiorespiratory Fitness
- Muscle Strength
- Oxygen Consumption