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Abstract

Background: The study aimed to investigate the effects of a six-month remotely monitored heart rate – guided high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program on aerobic capacity, functional performance, and weekly self-reported health outcomes in women with stage II–III breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Materials and methods: Fifty-six women (mean age 47 ± 8 years) were randomly assigned (1:1) to a HIIT group or a control group (CG). Thirty-five participants were included in analyses (HIIT group = 17; CG = 18). HIIT group performed 4 × 4-minute HIIT sessions at the intensity of 85–95% of the peak heart rate, two to three times weekly for six months. Aerobic capacity, time to exhaustion, functional performance, and weekly self-reported health domains were assessed before and after the intervention. Generalized linear mixed-effects models tested group × time interactions, and moderation analyses to test if physiological changes predicted self-reported trends. Results: The HIIT group achieved 79% adherence without adverse events. Peak oxygen uptake was maintained in the HIIT group (p = 0.94) but declined in CG (−13%, p < 0.001). Time to exhaustion (+5%, p = 0.043), 6-minute walking performance (+7%, p = 0.006),    30-second sit-to-stand (+19%, p = 0.003), and five-times sit-to-stand (+20%, p < 0.001) improved in the HIIT group. Significant group × time effects favored the HIIT group for physical functioning (p = 0.003), and both psychological state and sleep (p < 0.001). Reductions in the respiratory exchange ratio predicted improvements in pain, fatigue, social functioning, and sleep (all p < 0.01). Conclusion: Remote HIIT during chemotherapy preserved aerobic capacity and improved functional and patient-reported outcomes. Reductions in the respiratory exchange ratio moderated several patient-reported out-comes, suggesting an association between metabolic efficiency and less severe symptoms during chemotherapy.

Author ORCID Identifier

Rudolfs CESEIKO, ORCID: 0000-0002-2395-1306

Martins CAMPA, ORCID: 0000-0002-0038-3633

Maksims ZOLOVS, ORCID: 0000-0001-9120-5869

Greta Franceska JERMOLENKO, ORCID: 0009-0002-3222-3340 

Alicia LLORENTE, ORCID: 0000-0002-0045-071X

Aija LINĒ, ORCID: 0000-0002-8492-4758

Aija KLAVINA, ORCID: 0000-0003-1959-9941

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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