Training Level Comparison Study: EFFECT OF HIGH AND LOW INTENSITY EXERCISE ON VENTILATORY THRESHOLD IN MEN WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

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Abstract
To determine whether exercise at low intensity (LO; 50% of peak ˙VO2) or high intensity (HI; 85% of peak ˙VO2) results in improvement of the ventilatory threshold (VT), 186 men with coronary artery disease (CAD) were enrolled in an exercise study for 1 year. A symptom-limited exercise test was performed at baseline and the heart rate corresponding to 50% and 85% of peak ˙VO2 was determined. Subjects were randomized to LO or HI intensity exercise. Exercise sessions included 45 minutes of walking/jogging and/or stationary cycling at the appropriate target heart rate and were conducted 3 days per week. The exercise test was repeated at 3 and 6 months. Target heart rates were revised to adjust for training. Both LO and HI resulted in improved ˙VO2 at VT and peak. However, HI resulted in greater improvement than LO. Among this population, both HI and LO improve the ˙VO2 at VT and peak, but the improvement is greater with HI. The VT can be a useful adjunct to heart rate and peak oxygen uptake when prescribing exercise.