Table 1.

Aerobic exercise characteristics of studies included in meta-analysis.

Study	Study design	Sample size (completed/analysed)	Intervention duration (weeks)	Training modality	Frequency (per wk.)	Session duration	Prescribed exercise intensity
Benda et al. (2015) [28]	Non-RCT(1)	29	12	Cycle	2	35 min (HIIT) 30 min (CT) plus 10 min warm-up, 5 min cooldown each group	HIIT: 10 × 1 min @ 90% max. workload (RPE 15–17) separated by 2.5 min @ 30% max. workload CT: @60–75% max. workload (RPE 12–14) warm-up @ 40% max. Workload & cooldown @ 30% max. workload
Belardinelli et al. (2006) [29]	RCT	52	8	Cycle	3	40 min plus 15 min warm-up stretch, 5 min cooldown	60%  VO2 peak
Belardinelli et al. (2005) [30]	RCT	59	8	Cycle	3	40 min plus 15 min warm-up stretch, 5 min cooldown	60%  VO2 peak
Eleuteri et al. (2013) [31]	RCT	21	12	Cycle	5	30 min plus 5 min warm-up, 5 min cooldown	HR & power @ VAT (cycle @ 60 RPM) (VAT ~ 60%  VO2 max)1
Erbs et al. (2010) [32]	RCT	34	12	Cycle 1 × GS∗	Daily +1 GS wk.	20–30 min (plus 1 × 60 min GS/wk.)	HR @ 60%  VO2 max
Guazzi et al. (2004) [33]	RCT	31	8	Cycle	4	30 min plus 5 min warm-up, 5 min cooldown	60% HRR wk. 1-2, ↑ 80% HRR @ wk. 3
Isaksen et al. (2015) [34]	Non-RCT	35	12	Cycle or treadmill	3	25 min plus 15 min warm-up, 5 min cooldown, 15 min strength/stretch	4 × 4 HIIT @ 85%  HRmax (~RPE 15–17) separated by 3 min recovery @  60–70%  HRmax, warm-up @ 60–70%  HRmax
Kobayashi et al. (2003) [35]	RCT	28	12	Cycle	2-3 (2x day)	2 × 15 min session/day (30 min/day total)	HR @ VAT (~60–70%  VO2 max)
Linke et al. (2001) [36]	RCT	22	4	Cycle	daily (6x per day)	10 min (60 min/day total)	70%  VO2 peak
Sandri et al. (2015) [37]	RCT	60	4	Cycle 1 × GS∗	5 (4x per weekday)	15–20 min (~60 min/day total) plus 5 min warm-up and cooldown (plus  1 × 60 min GS per/wk.)	70% of symptom limited  VO2 max
Smart and Steele (2012) [38]	RCT	23	16	Cycle	3	60 min (INT) 30 min (CONT)	INT: work : rest (60 s : 60 s) @ 60–70%  VO2 peakCT: 60–70%  VO2 peak (cycle @ 60 RPM)
Van Craenenbroeck et al. (2010) [39]	Non-RCT	38	26	Ambulatory base	3	60 min	90% HR @ respiratory compensation point
Wisløff et al. (2007) [5]	RCT	26	12	Treadmill/ home walking	3	28 min (AIT) plus 10 min warm-up 47 min (MICT)	AIT: 4 min × 4 @ 90–95%  HRmax, separated by 3 min @ 50–70%  HRmax, MICT: @ 70–75%  HRmax

AIT: aerobic interval training, Con: control, CT: continuous training, GS: group session, HIIT: high intensity interval training, HR: heart rate, HR_max: maximum heart rate, HR_peak: peak heart rate, HRR: heart rate reserve, MIACT: moderate intensity aerobic training, MICT: moderate continuous training, non-RCT: nonrandomised controlled trial, RCT: randomised controlled trial, RPE: rating of perceived exertion, RPM: revolutions per minute, VAT: ventilatory anaerobic threshold, VO_2 peak: peak oxygen uptake, and VO_2 max: maximal oxygen uptake. ⁽¹⁾Two exercise groups randomised, but control group not randomised. ¹VO₂ @ VT/VO_2 peak = 8.8/14.8 = 59.5% of VO_2 peak. ^∗1 group session per week composed of walking, calisthenics, and ball games.