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High-intensity exercise is essential for optimal development of cardiorespiratory fitness and health. This is, however, challenging for most people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to ventilatory limitations, leading to exercise at lower intensities accompanied by suboptimal stress on the cardiovascular and muscular system.

PURPOSE: To compare the acute effects of a novel concept of short-duration supramaximal high-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs. moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in people with COPD and matched healthy controls (HC).

METHODS: Sixteen people with mild to severe COPD (75 ± 6 yr; 8 males; 73 ± 13 FEV1%pred; 119 ± 37 W max aerobic power [MAP]) and 14 HC (74 ± 5 yr; 8 males; 106 ± 14 FEV1%pred; 169 ± 38 W MAP) performed HIIT and MICT on a cycle ergometer in a randomized order. HIIT consisted of 10x6s sprints interspersed with 1-min recovery and was performed at two intensities: 60% of max mean power output for 6-sec (MPO6) and 80%MPO6, estimated from the Borg cycle strength test. MICT consisted of 20-min at 60% of MAP, derived from a cardiopulmonary exercise test. Cardiorespiratory parameters, blood lactate concentration, ratings of exertion/symptoms, and exercise modality preference were obtained.

RESULTS: Exercise characteristics and physiological data collected at the end of exercise are shown in Table 1. All HIIT sessions were completed, while 1 in 3 people with COPD did not complete MICT. The HIIT modality was preferred by 13/16 (COPD) and 12/14 (HC).

CONCLUSION: Short-duration supramaximal HIIT was feasible and enabled a 3.5-fold increase in exercise intensity vs. MICT in people with COPD and HC. Notably, despite the higher exercise intensities, the cardiorespiratory demand during HIIT was similar to MICT and clinically relevant reductions in symptoms were seen in favor of HIIT, in people with COPD. Also, >80% of participants preferred HIIT over MICT.