Table 1.

Characteristics of the included randomized controlled studies.

Source	Origin	Age (year)/Gendera	INT interventionsb	Control interventions
INT vs. MICT
Karstoft et al., 2013	Denmark	59.2; 62.5%	10 × (3-min walking at about 90% PEERc, 3-min walking at about 54% PEER); 5 times/week, 16 weeks	60 min of walking at about 73% PEER each time, 5 times/week, 16 weeks
Terada et al., 2013	Canada	63; 53.3%	7–15 × (1-min cycling or walking at 100% VO2R, 3-min cycling or walking at 40%VO2R); 5 times/week, 12 weeks	30–60 min of cycling or walking at 40% VO2R each time, 5 times/week, 12 weeks
Mitranun et al., 2014	Thailand	61.5; 35.7%	20 min walking or running at 50% VO2peak for phase 1; 4 × (1-min walking or running at 80% VO2peak, 4-min walking or running at 50% VO2peak) for phase 2; and 6 × (1-min walking or running at 85% VO2peak, 4-min walking or running at 60% VO2peak) for phase 3; 3 times/week, 12 weeks in total	20 min walking or running at 50% VO2peak for phase 1; 20-min walking or running at 60% VO2peak for phase 2; and 30-min walking or running at 65% VO2peak for phase 3; 3 times/week, 12 weeks in total
Hollekim-Strand et al., 2014	Norway	55.9; 64.0%	4 × (4-min walking or jogging at 90 to 95% HRmax, 3-min walking or jogging at 70% HRmax); 3 times/week, 12 weeks	210 min of home-based moderate intensity exercise every week, 12 weeks
Maillard et al., 2016	France	69; 0	60 × (8-sec cycling at supramaximal intensity, 12-s of slow cycling); 2 times/week, 16 weeks	40 min of cycling at 55–60% HRreserve each time, 2 times/week, 16 weeks
INT vs. NET
Karstoft et al., 2013	Denmark	57.3; 60.0%	10 × (3-min walking at about 90% PEERc, 3-min walking at about 54% PEER); 5 times/week, 16 weeks	Instructed to continue the habitual lifestyle, 16 weeks
Mitranun et al., 2014	Thailand	61.5; 34.5%	20 min walking or running at 50% VO2peak for phase 1; 4 × (1-min walking or running at 80% VO2peak, 4-min walking or running at 50% VO2peak) for phase 2; 6 × (1-min walking or running at 85% VO2peak, 4-min walking or running at 60% VO2peak) for phase 3; 3 times/week, 12 weeks in total	Instructed to remain sedentary as they previously were, 12 weeks
Alvarez et al., 2016	Brazil	44.5; 0	8–14 × (0.5- to 1-min jogging or running at 90–100% HRreserve, 1.6- to 2-min walking at ≤ 70% HRreserve); 3 times/week, 12 weeks	Instructed to continue the habitual lifestyle, 16 weeks
Cassidy et al., 2016	UK	60; 78.3%	5 × (2- to 3.8-min cycling at RPE 16–17, 3-min passive and light recovery); 3 times/week, 12 weeks	Instructed to continue the habitual lifestyle and care, 12 weeks

INT, vigorous to maximal aerobic interval training; MICT, moderate-intensity continuous training; PEER, peak energyexpenditure rate; VO₂R, oxygen consumption reserve; VO_2peak, oxygen consumption peak; HR_max, maximum heart rate; HR_reserve, heart rate reserve; NET, non-exercise training; RPE, Rating of perceived exertion.

^aGender here represents the proportions of men.

^bFor the details of each session of INT, they were expressed as number of intervals x (details of the high-intensity exercise, details of the active or passive recovery).

^cExercise intensity was measured by a JD Mate during walking.