The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of aerobic interval training
(AIT) versus moderate continuous training (MCT) on coronary atherosclerosis in patients
with significant coronary artery disease on optimal medical treatment. Thirty-six
patients were randomized to AIT (intervals at ≈ 90% of peak heart rate) or MCT (continuous
exercise at ≈ 70% of peak heart rate) 3 times a week for 12 weeks after intracoronary
stent implantation. Grayscale and radiofrequency intravascular ultrasounds (IVUS)
were performed at baseline and follow-up. The primary end point was the change in
plaque burden, and the secondary end points were change in necrotic core and plaque
vulnerability. Separate lesions were classified using radiofrequency IVUS criteria.
We demonstrated that necrotic core was reduced in both groups in defined coronary
segments (AIT −3.2%, MCT −2.7%, p <0.05) and in separate lesions (median change −2.3%
and −0.15 mm3, p <0.05). Plaque burden was reduced by 10.7% in separate lesions independent of
intervention group (p = 0.06). No significant differences in IVUS parameters were
found between exercise groups. A minority of separate lesions were transformed in
terms of plaque vulnerability during follow-up with large individual differences between
and within patients. In conclusion, changes in coronary artery plaque structure or
morphology did not differ between patients who underwent AIT or MCT. The combination
of regular aerobic exercise and optimal medical treatment for 12 weeks induced a moderate
regression of necrotic core and plaque burden in IVUS-defined coronary lesions.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 26, 2014
Accepted:
August 15,
2014
Received in revised form:
August 15,
2014
Received:
June 3,
2014
Footnotes
The study was funded by The Liaison Committee for Central Norway Regional Health Authority and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the Research Fund at St. Olavs University Hospital, the Norwegian Council on Cardiovascular Disease, and the Norwegian Council for Public Health.
See page 1510 for disclosure information.
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© 2014 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
