Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Previous studies have shown that aerobic exercise training provides many benefits for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). For example, it is known to improve survival and quality of life. However, it is still not known what type of exercise training (such as aerobic or strength), and what frequency, time spent, and intensity of training will increases these benefits.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is an excellent form of training because it does not require a great deal of time to do it. Also, because the exercise is done at a high intensity for a short time, it does not put a lot of strain on the respiratory system (compared to other types of exercise). This is particularly important for cystic fibrosis patients because they have problems with their respiratory system.
We wanted to find out if the addition of oxygen during the training sessions would improve the length of the high-intensity session, and therefore improve the benefit of the exercise training.
Who can participate?
Patients with cystic fibrosis aged 18 years or older
What does the study involve?
Participants perform HIIT on a cycle ergometer two days per week for eight weeks. Each exercise session is about 60 minutes in duration. During the exercise, some participants will be supplemented with oxygen however, the participants will not be told this. Over the study period, the training sessions will become longer as fitness improves.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Benefits: Each patient receives a written report outlining the principle findings of the study and a brief summary of the results of his/her own tests.
Risks: Exercise testing carries a very small risk of abnormal heart rhythms, heart attack, or death in less than one in 30,000 patients. The exercise tests are carried out by experienced exercise scientists and are supervised by a medical doctor. The participant may experience some muscle soreness in his/her legs or nausea following the maximal exercise test.
Where is the study run from?
Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2009 to June 2010
Who is funding the study?
Cystic Fibrosis Hopesource Foundation in Ireland
Who is the main contact?
Dr Ronen Reuveny
ronenreuveny@tauex.tau.ac.il
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Ronen Reuveny
ORCID ID
Contact details
Pulmonary institute
Sheba Medical Center
Tel-HaShomer
Ramat Gan
52621
Israel
972-3-5302930
ronenreuveny@tauex.tau.ac.il
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
001/2008
Study information
Scientific title
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) accelerates oxygen uptake kinetics and improves exercise tolerance for individuals with cystic fibrosis – a pilot study
Acronym
SOETBCF
Study hypothesis
1. High-intensity interval training HIIT would reduce the VO2 mean response time (MRT) during CWR exercise
2. HIIT would increase the time to limit of tolerance during CWR exercise
3. Supplementation with O2 during HIIT would allow for more high-intensity work to be performed thereby resulting in amplification of the aforementioned training effects.
Ethics approval
Approved 12/03/2008 Ethics (Medical Research) Committee - Beaumont Hospital Dublin (Gillian Vale,
RCSI Beaumont Ethics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont, Dublin 9 Ireland; 01-8092680; gvale@rcsi.ie), ref: 07/83
Study design
Interventional single center randomised controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Quality of life
Patient information sheet
No participant information sheet available
Condition
Cystic fibrosis
Intervention
This pilot study employed a randomised, single-blind design. Participants were randomly assigned to a group performing HIIT with O2 supplementation (O2+) or a group performing HIIT while breathing ambient air (AMB). Participants blinded to the treatment performed HIIT on a cycle ergometer two days per week for eight weeks. Each exercise session was about 60 minutes in duration.
Patients with CF were randomly assigned to a group performing high-intensity interval training with oxygen supplementation or to a group performing high-intensity interval training while breathing ambient air. Each patient chose a piece of paper from an envelope, which indicated which group they were assigned to.
Participants visited the exercise lab on three separate days before (baseline) and after the training program (12 weeks). Each visit was at least 72 hours apart. During these visits, participants performed the pre- and post-training evaluations which consisted of: Anthropometric measurements, Pulmonary function tests, Maximal exercise capacity test, VO2 kinetics.
Maximal exercise capacity test: Participants performed an incremental symptom-limited peak exercise test on an electronically-braked cycle ergometer while breathing through a full face mask. The incremental protocol was designed to ensure that participants reached limit of tolerance within 8–12 minutes. Gas-exchange data was collected during the test and measurements of O2 consumption, CO2 production, heart rate, ventilation and respiratory rate were obtained.
During the second visit, participants performed a constant work cycling test at 30% the peak work rate achieved on the incremental maximal test. Gas-exchange data were collected during the test and measurements of VO2 kinetics, CO2 production, heart rate, ventilation and respiratory rate were obtained.
During the third visit, participants performed a constant work cycling test at 70% the peak work rate achieved on the incremental maximal test. Gas-exchange data was collected during the test and measurements of VO2 kinetics, CO2 production, heart rate, ventilation and respiratory rate were obtained.
Intervention type
Supplement
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Maximal exercise capacity measured using an incremental symptom-limited peak exercise test on an electronically-braked cycle ergometer while breathing through a full face mask measured at baseline and 12-weeks.
Secondary outcome measures
1. Anthropometric measurements: height and body mass were measured and double thickness subcutaneous adipose tissue was determined on the right side of the body using skinfold calipers, at the first visit.
2. Pulmonary function tests: spirometry and single-breath carbon monoxide diffusion capacity were measured at the first visit.
Overall trial start date
09/11/2007
Overall trial end date
04/07/2010
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Diagnosis of CF that was based on clinical features, sweat test, or genotyping, and a pulmonary function test
2. Age > 18 years
3. Forced expiratory in one second (FEV1) > 30% predicted
4. Clinically stable
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
11
Participant exclusion criteria
Does not meet inclusion criteria
Recruitment start date
15/05/2009
Recruitment end date
04/06/2010
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Ireland
Trial participating centre
Beaumont Hospital
P.O. Box 1297
Beaumont Road
Dublin
D9
Ireland
Sponsor information
Organisation
School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University
Sponsor details
Glasnevin
Dublin 9
Dublin
D9
Ireland
+353 1 700 7411
international.office@dcu.ie
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Funder name
Cystic Fibrosis Hopesource Foundation in Ireland
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
We are going to submit it in a special review "Application of high-intensity training methods in clinical populations - concepts, progress, and challenges" in Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation journal in BMC open access.
IPD sharing statement:
All data generated or analysed during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication
Intention to publish date
10/07/2019
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list