TABLE 1.
Characteristics of the participants and interventions.
| References | Sample size (sex) | Intervention | Participants characteristics | Age (years) | BMI (kg/m2) | Exercise program duration, type, and frequency | Intervention protocol (HIIT or SIT vs. MICT and CON) | Total minutes of high-intensity bouts per session and week | Total minutes of HIIT vs. MICT per week (min) |
| Abdi et al. (62) | 30 (female) | HIIT CON |
Type 2 diabetes | HIIT: 20−44 CON: 20−44 |
HIIT: 29.2 ± 1.3 CON: 28.7 ± 1.5 |
12 weeks treadmill running; unsupervised 3 days/week | HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 85–95% of HRmax with 3-min recovery at 50–60% of HRmax CON: maintained the activities of daily living without any training program |
16 (48) | NA |
| Almenning et al. (63) | 20 (female) | HIIT CON |
Polycystic ovary syndrome | HIIT: 27.2 ± 5.5 CON: 27.2 ± 5.5 |
HIIT: 26.1 ± 6.5 CON: 26.5 ± 5.0 |
10 weeks treadmill or outdoor walking/running and/or cycling; supervised 1 day/week; unsupervised 2 day/week | HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 90–95% of HRmax with 3-min recovery at 70% of HRmax (2 sessions) + SIT: ten sets of 1-min at maximal intensity by 1-min recovery (1 session) CON: without any structure program |
14 (42) | NA |
| Angadi et al. (44) | 19 (male, female) | HIIT MICT |
Heart failure | HIIT: 69.0 ± 6.1 MICT: 71.5 ± 11.7 |
HIIT: 29.8 ± 5.1 MICT: 29.3 ± 2.8 |
4 weeks treadmill training; unsupervised 3 days/week | HIIT: four sets of 2–4 min at 80–90% of HRpeak with 2–3 min recovery at 50% of HRpeak MICT (not matched-work with HIIT): 15–30 min at 60–70% of HRpeak |
16 (48) | 48–85 vs. 45–90 |
| Baekkerud et al. (45) | 30 (male, female) | HIIT1 HIIT2 MICT |
Obese and overweight | HIIT1: 45.0 ± 8.0 HIIT2: 39.0 ± 10.0 MICT: 41.0 ± 10.0 |
HIIT1: 30.8 HIIT2: 31.4 ± 5.3 MICT: 29.0 ± 2.7 |
6 weeks treadmill walking/running; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT1: ten sets of 1-min at 90% of HRmax with walking recovery HIIT2: four sets of 4-min at 85–95% of HRmax with 3-min recovery at 70% of HRmax MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 45-min at 70% of HRmax |
HIIT1: 10 (30) HIIT2: 16 (48) |
57 and 75 vs. 135 |
| Boff et al. (72) | 36 (male, female) | HIIT MICT CON |
Type 1 diabetes | HIIT: 26.1 ± 7.8 MICT: 23.7 ± 5.8 CON: 20.8 ± 2.6 |
HIIT: 23.2 ± 2.4 MICT: 24.1 ± 2.0 CON: 22.7 ± 2.6 |
8 weeks cycling; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: 20-min at 50% of HRmax for first 2 weeks three to six sets of 1-min at 80–85% of HRmax with 4–5 min recovery at 50% of HRmax MICT (ND matched-work with HIIT): 20–40 min at 50 65% of HRmax CON: walking at least three times a week for 30 min |
3–6 (9–18) | 18–30 vs. 20–40 |
| Bouaziz et al. (64) | 60 (male, female) | HIIT CON |
Sedentary older adults | HIIT: 72.9 ± 2.5 CON: 74.3 ± 3.4 |
HIIT: 28.7 ± 5.6 MICT: 28.8 ± 5.1 |
9.5 weeks cycling; supervised 2 days/week | HIIT: six sets of 4-min at first ventilator threshold with 1-min recovery at 40% of first ventilator threshold CON: sedentary lifestyle and current food habits |
24 (48) | NA |
| Chidnok et al. (65) | 24 (male, female) | HIIT CON |
Healthy young adults | HIIT: 21.3 ± 0.7 CON: 21.3 ± 0.7 |
HIIT: 21.3 ± 3.9 CON: 21.3 ± 4.4 |
6 weeks cycling; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: five sets of 1-min at 80% of HRmax with 2-min recovery CON: Maintained daily activities |
5 (15) | NA |
| Currie et al. (46) | 22 (male, female) | HIIT MICT |
Coronary artery disease | HIIT: 62.0 ± 11.0 MICT: 68.0 ± 8.0 |
HIIT: 27.9 ± 4.9 MICT: 27.3 ± 4.2 |
12 weeks cycling; supervised 2 days/week | HIIT: ten sets of 1-min at 89% of peak power output with 1-min recovery at 10% of peak power output MICT (unmatched-work with HIIT): 30–50 min at 58% of peak power output |
10 (20) | 70 vs. 90–130 |
| Conraads et al. (47) | 200 (male, female) | HIIT MICT |
Coronary artery disease | HIIT: 57.0 ± 8.8 MICT: 59.9 ± 9.2 |
HIIT: 28.0 ± 4.4 MICT: 28.5 ± 4.3 |
12 weeks cycling; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 90–95% of HRpeak with 3-min recovery at 50–70% of HRpeak MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 47-min at 65–75% of HRpeak |
16 (48) | 114 vs. 141 |
| Ghardashi Afousi et al. (73) | 75 (male, female) | HIIT MICT CON |
Type 2 diabetes | HIIT: 54.8 ± 6.2 MICT: 53.1 ± 4.8 CON: 54.2 ± 5.6 |
HIIT: 29.4 ± 0.9 MICT: 28.9 ± 1.0 CON: 29.3 ± 1.3 |
12 weeks cycling; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: twelve sets of 1.5-min at 85–90% of HRmax with 2-min recovery at 55–60% of HRmax MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 42-min at 70% of HRmax CON: Maintained daily activities |
18 (54) | 186 vs. 186 |
| Gilbertson et al. (66) | 25 (female) | HIIT CON |
Obese | HIIT: 48.5 ± 13.7 CON: 45.7 ± 12.1 |
HIIT: 37.3 ± 7.2 CON: 37.8 ± 5.5 |
2 weeks cycling; supervised 6 days/week | HIIT: ten sets of 3-min at 90% of HRmax/peak with 3-min recovery at 50% of HRmax/peak CON: received nutrition advice |
30 (180) | NA |
| Jo et al. (48) | 37 (male, female) | HIIT MICT |
Hypertensive, metabolic syndrome | HIIT: 49.9 ± 7.3 MICT: 51.8 ± 8.5 |
HIIT: 24.9 ± 2.8 MICT: 24.9 ± 3.2 |
8 weeks treadmill running; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: 5-min at 60% of heart rate reserve followed by three sets of 3-min at 80% of heart rate reverse with 3-min at 40% of heart rate reserve MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 35-min at 60% of heart rate reserve |
9 (27) | 75 vs. 120 |
| Klonizakis et al. (49) | 22 (female) | HIIT MICT |
Postmenopausal | HIIT: 64.0 ± 7.0 MICT: 64.0 ± 4.0 |
ND | 2 weeks cycling; supervised 3 days/week | SIT: 10 sets of 1-min at 100% of peak power output with 1-min recovery at 30 W MICT (unmatched-work with HIIT): 40-min at 65% of peak power output |
10 (30) | 78 vs. 138 |
| Lee et al. (67) | 30 (female) | HIIT CON |
Breast cancer | HIIT: 49.1 ± 7.9 CON: 44.7 ± 11.2 |
HIIT: 33.1 ± 7.6 CON: 30.1 ± 7.7 |
8 weeks cycling; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: seven sets of 1-min at 90% of peak power output with 2-min recovery at 30% of peak power output CON: less than 30 min of total structured exercise per week |
7 (21) | NA |
| Malin et al. (50) | 26 (male, female) | HIIT MICT |
Prediabetes | HIIT: 59.9 ± 7.6 MICT: 60.4 ± 8.6 |
HIIT: 30.9 ± 3.8 MICT: 35.6 ± 6.0 |
2 weeks cycling; unsupervised 6 days/week | HIIT: 10 sets of 3-min at 90% of HRpeak with 3-min recovery at 50% of HRpeak MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 60-min at 70% of HRpeak |
30 (180) | 360 vs. 360 |
| Mitranun et al. (74) | 45 (male, female) | HIIT MICT CON |
Type 2 diabetes | HIIT: 61.2 ± 10.5 MICT: 61.7 ± 10.1 CON: 60.9 ± 9.3 |
HIIT: 29.6 ± 1.9 MICT: 29.4 ± 2.6 CON: 29.7 ± 1.5 |
12 weeks treadmill running; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: 20-min at 50% of VO2
peak for 2 weeks four to six sets of 1-min at 80–85% of VO2 peak with 4-min recovery at 50–60% of VO2 peak MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 20–30 min at 60–65% of VO2 peak CON: instructed to remain sedentary |
4–6 (12–18) | 60–90 vs. 60–90 |
| Moholdt et al. (51) | 107 (male, female) | HIIT MICT |
Myocardial infarction | HIIT: 56.7 ± 10.4 MICT: 57.7 ± 9.3 |
HIIT: 26.8 ± 3.0 MICT: 27.2 ± 4.1 |
12 weeks walking/running; supervised 2 d/week; unsupervised 1 day/week | HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 85–95% of HRmax with 3-min recovery at 70% of HRmax MICT (ND matched-work with HIIT): 35-min walking, jogging, lunges and squats |
16 (48) | 76 vs. 120 |
| Molmen- Hansen et al. (75) | 88 (male, female) | HIIT MICT CON |
Hypertensive | HIIT: 52.5 ± 7.4 MICT: 53.6 ± 6.5 CON: 51.3 ± 9.2 |
HIIT: 26.8 ± 4.1 MICT: 27.9 ± 3.2 CON: 28.8 ± 3.7 |
12 weeks uphill treadmill walking/running; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 85–90% of HRmax with 3-min recovery at 60–70% of HRmax MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 47-min at 70% of HRmax CON: standard advice for hypertension, including regular light–moderate intensity exercise |
16 (48) | 114 vs. 141 |
| Munk et al. (68) | 40 (male, female) | HIIT CON |
Coronary artery disease | HIIT: 57.0 ± 14.0 CON: 61.0 ± 10.0 |
HIIT: 27.1 ± 5.2 CON: 27.7 ± 4.5 |
6 months cycling; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 80–90% of HRmax with 3-min recovery at 60–70% of HRmax CON: without any structured program |
16 (48) | NA |
| Novaković et al. (76) | 30 (male, female) | HIIT MICT CON |
Repaired tetralogy of Fallot | HIIT: 36.2 ± 6.8 MICT: 40.1 ± 10.4 CON: 38.4 ± 8.9 |
HIIT: 24.5 ± 6.2 MICT: 26.3 ± 6.0 CON: 24.4 ± 5.6 |
36 sessions cycling; supervised 2–3 days/week | HIIT: eight sets of 1-min at 80% of HRpeak with 3-min recovery at 60% of HRpeak MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 26-min at 70% of HRpeak CON: regular unsupervised physical activities |
8 (16–24) | 84–126 vs. 82–123 |
| Nytrøen et al. (52) | 81 (male, female) | HIIT MICT |
Heart transplant | HIIT: 50.0 ± 12.0 MICT: 48.0 ± 14.0 |
HIIT: 24.8 ± 3.4 MICT: 25.6 ± 3.9 |
12 months cycling; supervised 2–3 days/week | HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 85–95% of peak effort with 3-min recovery at 60–70% of peak effort MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 25-min at 60–80% of peak effort |
16 (32–48) | 112–168 vs. 112–168 |
| O’Brien et al. (53) | 24 (male, female) | HIIT MICT |
Sedentary older adults | HIIT: 68.0 ± 5.0 MICT: 68.0 ± 6.0 |
HIIT: 25.9 ± 3.1 MICT: 25.2 ± 3.6 |
6 weeks cycling; supervised 3 days/week | SIT: 2× 35–45 sets of 15-s at 100% of peak power output with 15-s recovery MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 30–39 min at 60% of peak power output |
17.5–22.5 (52.5–67.5) | 135–165 vs. 120–147 |
| Petrick et al. (54) | 23 (male) | HIIT MICT |
Obese and overweight | HIIT: 39.4 ± 14.9 MICT: 35.3 ± 15.1 |
HIIT: 34.1 ± 4.3 MICT: 33.9 ± 2.4 |
6 weeks cycling; supervised 3 days/week for HIIT and supervised 5 days/week for MICT | SIT: four to six sets of 30-s at 170% of maximal workload with 2-min recovery at 50 W MICT (unmatched-work with HIIT): 30–40 min at 60% of maximal workload |
2–3 (6–9) | 45–60 vs. 150–200 |
| Rakobowchuk et al. (55) | 20 (male, female) | HIIT MICT |
Healthy | HIIT: 23.6 ± 3.2 MICT: 23.0 ± 2.4 |
HIIT: 23.6 ± 3.0 MICT: 24.3 ± 2.1 |
6 weeks cycling; supervised 3 days/week for HIIT and supervised 5 days/week for MICT | SIT: four to six sets of Wingate tests with 4.5-min recovery at 30 W MICT (unmatched-work with HIIT): 40–60 min at 65% of VO2 peak |
2–3 (6–9) | 43.5–76.5 vs. 200–300 |
| Ramírez-Vélez et al. (69) | 36 (male, female) | HIIT CON |
Overweight with abdominal obesity | HIIT: 40.8 ± 7.1 CON: 40.8 ± 7.1 |
HIIT: 30.0 ± 3.5 CON: 30.0 ± 3.5 |
12 weeks treadmill walking/running; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 85–95% of HRmax with 4-min recovery at 65% of HRmax CON: received nutritional advice |
16 (48) | NA |
| Ramírez-Vélez et al. (56) | 21 (ND) | HIIT MICT |
Sedentary adults | HIIT: 18−45 MICT: 18−45 |
HIIT: 25.5 ± 4.2 MICT: 23.6 ± 3.6 |
12 weeks treadmill walking/running; supervised and unsupervised 3 days/week | HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 85–95% of heart rate reverse with 4-min recovery at 75–85% of heart rate reserve MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 30–35 min at 60–75% of heart rate reserve |
16 (48) | 114–126 vs. 132–147 |
| Sarvasti et al. (57) | 11 (male, female) | HIIT MICT |
Coronary artery disease | HIIT: 48.5 ± 6.6 MICT: 48.5 ± 6.6 |
HIIT: 27.0 ± 3.9 MICT: 27.0 ± 3.9 |
2 weeks treadmill walking; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 60–80% of heart rate reverse with 3-min recovery at 40–50% of heart rate reserve MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 29-min at 40–60% of heart rate reserve |
16 (48) | 99 vs. 111 |
| Sawyer et al. (58) | 22 (male, female) | HIIT MICT |
Obese | HIIT: 35.1 ± 8.1 MICT: 35.1 ± 8.1 |
HIIT: 37.4 ± 6.2 MICT: 34.5 ± 3.2 |
8 weeks cycling; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: ten sets of 1-min at 90–95% of HRmax with 1-min recovery at 25–50 W MICT (not matched-work with HIIT): 30-min at 70–75% of HRmax |
10 (30) | 87 vs. 120 |
| Schjerve et al. (59) | 27 (male, female) | HIIT MICT |
Obese | HIIT: 46.9 ± 8.2 MICT: 44.4 ± 7.6 |
HIIT: 36.6 ± 4.5 MICT: 36.7 ± 5.0 |
12 weeks walking/jogging; supervised 2 days/week; unsupervised 1 day/week | HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 85–95% of HRmax with 3-min recovery at 50–60% of HRmax MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 47-min at 60–70% of HRmax |
16 (48) | 120 vs. 141 |
| Stensvold et al. (70) | 22 (male, female) | HIIT CON |
Metabolic syndrome | HIIT: 49.9 ± 10.1 MICT: 47.3 ± 10.2 |
HIIT: 31.3 ± 4.3 MICT: 31.9 ± 4.1 |
12 weeks treadmill walking/running; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 90–95% of HRpeak with 3-min recovery at 70% of HRpeak CON: instructed not to change their dietary patterns or physical activity |
16 (48) | NA |
| Taylor et al. (60) | 54 (male, female) | HIIT MICT |
Coronary artery disease | HIIT: 64.0 ± 8.0 MICT: 63.0 ± 8.0 |
HIIT: 28.7 ± 4.3 MICT: 29.5 ± 4.2 |
4 weeks walking/running or cycling/elliptical; supervised 2 days/week; unsupervised 1 day/week | HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 85–95% of HRpeak with 3-min recovery MICT (ND matched-work with HIIT): 40-min at 65–75% of HRpeak |
16 (48) | ND |
| Thijssen et al. (61) | 24 (male, female) | HIIT MICT |
Heart failure | HIIT: 63.0 ± 8.0 MICT: 64.0 ± 8.0 |
HIIT: 28.1 ± 7.5 MICT: 28.9 ± 4.7 |
12 weeks cycling; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: ten sets of 1-min at 90% of maximal workload by 2.5-min recovery at 30% of maximal workload MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 30-min at 60–75% of maximal workload |
10 (20) | 70 vs. 60 |
| Tjønna et al. (77) | 32 (male, female) | HIIT MICT CON |
Metabolic syndrome | HIIT: 55.3 ± 13.2 MICT: 52.0 ± 10.6 CON: 49.6 ± 9.0 |
HIIT: 29.8 ± 5.5 MICT: 29.4 ± 4.9 CON: 32.1 ± 3.3 |
16 weeks uphill treadmill walking/running; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 90% of maximal heart rate with 3-min recovery at 70% of maximal heart rate MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 47-min at 70% of maximal heart rate CON: advice from family physicians |
16 (48) | 120 vs. 141 |
| Tucker et al. (78) | 29 (male) | HIIT MICT CON |
sedentary inactive | HIIT: 30.0 ± 7.0 MICT: 29.0 ± 7.0 CON: 28.0 ± 9.0 |
HIIT: 30.2 ± 3.0 MICT: 29.7 ± 4.5 CON: 29.6 ± 3.9 |
4 weeks cycling; supervised 4 days/week | HIIT: eight to eleven sets of 1-min at 90–95% of HRmax with 1-min recovery MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 30–45 min at 50% of VO2 max CON: instructed to maintain their current physical activity pattern |
8–11 (32–44) | 100–128 vs. 160–220 |
| Turri-Silva et al. (71) | 18 (male, female) | HIIT CON |
Heart failure | HIIT: 60.9 ± 9.7 CON: 56.0 ± 9.7 |
HIIT: 29.4 ± 5.2 CON: 28.6 ± 4.5 |
12 weeks cycling/running; supervised 3 days/week | HIIT: four sets of 3-min at high intensity with 4-min recovery at moderate intensity CON: maintained daily activities |
12 (36) | NA |
| Wisløff et al. (79) | 27 (male, female) | HIIT MICT CON |
Heart failure | HIIT: 76.5 ± 9.0 MICT: 74.4 ± 12.0 CON: 75.5 ± 13.0 |
HIIT: 24.5 ± 3.0 MICT: 24.7 ± 3.0 CON: 25.5 ± 2.0 |
12 weeks uphill treadmill walking; supervised 2 days/week; unsupervised 1 days/week | HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 90–95% of HRpeak with 3-min recovery at 50–70% of HRpeak MICT (matched-work with HIIT): 47-min at 70–75% of HRpeak CON: one exercise session every 3 weeks |
16 (48) | 114 vs. 141 |
HIIT, high-intensity interval training; MICT, moderate-intensity continuous training; CON, control; VO2 max/peak, maximal or peak oxygen uptake; HRmax/peak, maximal or peak heart rate; W, watt; ND, not-described; NA, not-available.