Feasibility of high-intensity training in asthma

ABSTRACT

Background: High-intensity interval training is an effective and popular training regime but its feasibility in untrained adults with asthma is insufficiently described.

Objective: The randomized controlled trial ‘EFFORT Asthma’ explored the effects of behavioural interventions including high-intensity interval training on clinical outcomes in nonobese sedentary adults with asthma. In this article we present a sub analysis of data aiming to evaluate if patients’ pre-intervention levels of asthma control, FEV1, airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) predicted their training response to the high-intensity interval training program, measured as increase in maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max).

Design: We used data from the EFFORT Asthma Study. Of the 36 patients randomized to the 8-week exercise intervention consisting of high-intensity training three times per week, 29 patients (45% females) completed the study and were included in this data analysis. Pre-intervention assessment included the asthma control questionnaire (ACQ), spirometry, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and AHR to mannitol. VO₂ max was measured during an incremental cycle test.

Results: The majority of included patients had partly or uncontrolled asthma reflected by a mean (SD) ACQ at 1.7 (0.6). Median (IQR) FeNO was 28.5 (23.8) ppb and 75% had a positive mannitol test indicating AHR.

The association between patients’ training response measured as increase in VO₂max and pre-intervention ACQ scores was not statistically significant (p = 0.49). Likewise, the association between patients’ increase in VO₂max and FeNO as well as AHR was not statistically significant (p = 0.80 and p = 0.58).

Conclusions: Included asthma patients could adhere to the high-intensity interval protocol and improve their VO₂max regardless of pre-intervention levels of asthma control, airway inflammation and AHR.

KEYWORDS:

• Asthma
• high-intensity interval training
• exercise
• asthma control

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge all staff members at Bispebjerg Hospital’s Respiratory Research Unit. The results of the study are presented clearly, honestly and without fabrication, falsification or inappropriate data manipulation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

L. L. Toennesen

Louise Toennesen, MD, Ph.D. Employed as medical doctor in specialist training in respiratory medicine at Bispebjerg University Hospital. She recently defended her Ph.D. thesis at the University of Copenhagen. Research interests include asthma, exercise physiology and inflammation.

E. D. Soerensen

Emil Dam Soerensen, MD. Recently graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Copenhagen. Academic interests include exercise physiology and inflammatory diseases.

M. Hostrup

Morten Hostrup, MD, Ph.D. Employed as a post doctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen. Research interests include sports science and asthma.

C. Porsbjerg

Celeste Porsbjerg, MD, PhD. Consultant at the Respiratory Department at Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark and Associate Professor at The Respiratory Research Unit at Bispebjerg University Hospital.

J. Bangsbo

Jens Bangsbo, Dr. Sci. Professor at the Faculty of Natural Science, University of Copenhagen.

V. Backer

Vibeke Backer, Dr. Med. Consultant and Chief of The Respiratory Research Unit at Bispebjerg University Hospital.