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Additional cardiovascular fitness when progressing from moderate- to high-intensity exercise training in previously trained breast cancer survivors

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Abstract

Purpose

Cardiovascular disease, often secondary to chemotherapy, is the leading cause of death in BC survivors. Increased aerobic capacity improves post-rehabilitation survival; however, many cancer rehabilitation programs are limited to lower intensity training. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is associated with the largest improvements in aerobic capacity; therefore, this study aimed to determine whether HIIT would cause a greater increase in VO2peak than continuous moderate-intensity (MICT) exercise in previously trained BC survivors.

Methods

Twenty BC survivors who had completed a low/moderate-intensity exercise rehabilitation program performed a VO2peak test and received a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan at baseline and after randomization into a 12-week HIIT or MICT program. ANOVA with repeated measures determined the effects of the different training programs on aerobic capacity and body composition.

Results

Both groups began the training program near or above age- and sex-matched VO2peak norms. Pre- to post-intervention improvements in VO2peak (P = 0.006) and waist circumference (P = 0.007) were found in both groups; however, there were no between-group differences. Minute ventilation and peak workload increased in the HIIT group (P < 0.05) but not the MICT group. Body composition was not different after either training program.

Conclusions

These data suggest that transitioning from low/moderate-intensity exercise to moderate/high-intensity exercise causes further clinically relevant increases in VO2peak in previously trained BC survivors. HIIT did not cause a significantly greater improvement in VO2peak than MICT; however, future studies with greater intensity and frequency of training are encouraged.

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Funding

This study was funded by the Department of Medicine, Departmental Grant, University of Otago.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physical Education, Sport & Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Richard A. Bell & Lynnette M. Jones

  2. Department of Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Richard A. Bell & James C. Baldi

Authors
  1. Richard A. Bell
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  2. James C. Baldi
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  3. Lynnette M. Jones
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Contributions

L.M.J., J.C.B., and R.B. contributed to the study conception and design. Data collection and analysis were performed by R.B., under the supervision of L.M.J. and J.C.B. J.C.B. wrote the first draft of the manuscript. L.M.J. and R.B. provided edits and all authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lynnette M. Jones.

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Ethics approval

All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with and approved by the University of Otago Human Ethics committee (Health, H18/029) and in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration.

Consent to participate

All participants provided informed written consent.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Bell, R.A., Baldi, J.C. & Jones, L.M. Additional cardiovascular fitness when progressing from moderate- to high-intensity exercise training in previously trained breast cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer 29, 6645–6650 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06259-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06259-w

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