Fukahori 1999.
| Methods | RCT conducted in 1996 in Japan involving 108 workers. Six‐month follow‐up with measurements at months 3 and 6 | |
| Participants | Workers from a petroleum complex were recruited, 19‐61 years of age, able to follow an exercise programme prescribed by an industrial physician, with two or more of the following risk factors: ‐ Hyperlipidemia (CholTotal≥220 mg/dl or HDL≤40 mg/dl) ‐ High blood pressure (SBP≥140 mmHg or DBP≥90 mmHg, no medication) ‐ Obesity (BMI≥24 kg/m2) ‐ Hyperglycaemia (fasting blood sugar≥110 mg/dl) |
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| Interventions | The experimental group underwent interval training on a treadmill, consisting of 2.5‐minute walking with a 5% slope at 70‐75% of the HRmax alternated with 3‐minute flat walking, for a total of 20 minutes exercise The exercise program was prescribed by an industrial physician in a work setting as part a health promotion plan Sessions were conducted 3 times a week for 6 months during normal business hours The control group received no exercise or alternative intervention |
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| Outcomes | Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and walking speed | |
| Notes | Data to calculate total cardiovascular risk was not available. This study was included because it considers participants with two or more risk factors | |
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Unclear risk | A total of 108 participants are randomized, 54 to each group, but a specific method to balance participants in each group is not defined |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | High risk | Not reported |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes | High risk | Not reported. In an exercise‐based intervention, neither patients nor personnel can be blinded |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | Not reported |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | High risk | Five losses in the exercise group (9.2%) and two in the control group (3.7%). Reasons were change of job or injury |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Low risk | In the objectives section, authors state that effects on lipids and walking speed would be assessed. Both of these outcomes are reported |