Table 2.
Schedule of enrolment, interventions, and assessments
| Timepoint | Study period | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enrolment | Allocation | Post-allocation | ||||
| -t1 | 0 | Baseline |
Partial evaluation (week 5) |
Post-training (week 9) |
After 4 weeks of training end (week 13) | |
| Enrolment | ||||||
| Eligibility screen | X | |||||
| Informed consent | X | |||||
| Allocation | X | |||||
| Interventions (training) | ||||||
| Normoxia (N) | X | |||||
| Hypoxia (H) | X | |||||
| Hypoxia recovery (HR) | X | |||||
| Control group | X | |||||
| Assessments | ||||||
| Lung function (spirometry) | X | X | X | X | ||
| Autonomic parameters (HRV) | X | X | X | X | ||
| Max Aerobic power (VO2peak) | X | X | X | X | ||
| Anaerobic threshold | X | X | X | X | ||
| Inflammatory mediators1 | X | X | X | |||
| Haematological parameters2 | X | X | X | |||
| Body composition (iDXA) | X | X | X | |||
| Quality of life (SF – 12) | X | X | X | |||
| Mental Health (DASS–21) | X | X | X | |||
| Anthropometric (BMI, WC) | X | X | X | |||
| Physical fitness (motor tests) | X | X | X | |||
HRV heart rate variability, max maximum, BMI body mass index, WC waist circumference
1Inflammatory mediators include quantification of cytokines and profile of eicosanoids
2Haematological parameters include complete blood cell count, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-c, LDL-c, lactate dehydrogenase, liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase), and EPO