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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Jan;16(1):69-76.
doi: 10.1177/1479164118816223. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Unsupervised high-intensity interval training improves glycaemic control but not cardiovascular autonomic function in type 2 diabetes patients: A randomised controlled trial

Sophie Cassidy  1 , Vivek Vaidya  1 , David Houghton  1 , Pawel Zalewski  2 , Jelena P Seferovic  3   4 , Kate Hallsworth  1 , Guy A MacGowan  1 , Michael I Trenell  5 , Djordje G Jakovljevic  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Unsupervised high-intensity interval training improves glycaemic control but not cardiovascular autonomic function in type 2 diabetes patients: A randomised controlled trial

Sophie Cassidy et al. Diab Vasc Dis Res. 2019 Jan.

Abstract

Background: This is the first randomised controlled trial to assess the impact of unsupervised high-intensity interval training on cardiovascular autonomic function in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A total of 22 individuals with type 2 diabetes (age 60 ± 2 years, 17 males) lay in a supine position for 20 min for evaluation of cardiovascular autonomic function, which included (1) time domain measures of heart rate variability, (2) frequency domain measures of heart rate variability and blood pressure variability and (3) baroreflex receptor sensitivity. Participants were randomised into 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training (3 sessions/week) or standard care control group.

Results: After 12 weeks, the between-group change in HbA1c (%) was significant (high-intensity interval training: 7.13 ± 0.31 to 6.87 ± 0.29 vs Control: 7.18 ± 0.17 to 7.36 ± 0.21, p = 0.03). There were no significant changes in measures of heart rate variability; R-R interval (ms) (high-intensity interval training: 954 ± 49 to 973 ± 53 vs Control: 920 ± 6 to 930 ± 32, p = 0.672), low frequency/high frequency (high-intensity interval training: 0.90 ± 0.21 to 0.73 ± 0.07 vs Control: 1.20 ± 0.29 to 1.00 ± 0.17, p = 0.203), or blood pressure variability; systolic blood pressure low frequency/high frequency (high-intensity interval training: 0.86 ± 0.21 to 0.73 ± 0.10 vs Control: 1.06 ± 0.26 to 0.91 ± 0.14, p = 0.169). At baseline, HbA1c was negatively correlated with baroreflex receptor sensitivity ( r = -0.592, p < 0.01).

Conclusion: High-intensity interval training improves glycaemic control but has limited effect on cardiovascular autonomic regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Keywords: Exercise; cardiovascular diseases; type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: M.I.T. is a founder of Changing Health Ltd, a digital education company. All other authors declare that there is no duality of interest associated with this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Consort flow diagram showing patient enrolment.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Relationship between glycaemic control and BRS at baseline. BRS: baroreflex receptor sensitivity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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