Exercise training for women with heart disease

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This randomized study will enroll 104 women with coronary heart disease and assign them to either virtual HIIT or virtual MICT performed twice weekly for 12 weeks. The HIIT group will do 25-minute Zumba/movement sessions featuring four 4-minute high-intensity intervals (85–95% max) separated by 3-minute rests, while the MICT group will do 35-minute continuous Zumba/movement at 70–85% effort. Participants will undergo maximal exercise testing (CPET), body composition and cardiometabolic measurements, and complete questionnaires on quality of life, mental health, motivation, self-efficacy, and enjoyment before and after the intervention. Exercise sessions are delivered virtually, with baseline and outcome testing conducted at the Ottawa Heart Institute.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Women (i.e., female sex assigned at birth) with CHD (e.g., coronary artery bypass grafting surgery \[CABG\], percutaneous coronary intervention \[PCI\], acute myocardial infarction \[MI\], MI with no obstructive coronary artery disease \[MINOCA\], or ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease \[INOCA\] at least 4 weeks post procedure or event; based on clinical evidence this is a safe period of time to exercise);
2. Patient is able to perform a symptom limited CPET (this is the primary outcome and needed to determine peak HR for the exercise training prescription); and
3. Patient is able to read and understand English or French.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patient is currently participating in routine exercise training (\>2x/week, routine exercise training is defined as a planned, structured, and repetitive exercise that is performed in order to maintain or improve physical fitness.) (this may reduce the impact of HIIT or MICT on outcomes);
2. Patient has: NYHA class III-IV heart failure symptoms; unstable angina; or established diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, severe mitral or aortic stenosis, or hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (this may interfere with the ability to engage in MICT or HIIT);
3. Patient has uncontrolled arrhythmia (this may impact the HR-based exercise training prescription and monitoring);
4. Patient is unable to provide written informed consent; or
5. Patient is unwilling or unable to return for follow-up visits at 12 and 26 weeks.
6. Patient is unwilling to be randomized to HIIT or MICT.

Where it's running

• University of Ottawa Heart Institute
  Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Jennifer Reed, PhD — Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation
• Study coordinator: Jennifer Reed, PhD
• Email: jreed@ottawaheart.ca
• Phone: 613-696-7392

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.