Impact of Aerobic High-Intensity Interval Training Intervention and Mediterranean Diet Recommendations on Health-Related Quality of Life and Lifestyle Modification in Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients: Results From the INTERFARCT Surveys.

This study aims to determine the impact of 2 (low vs high volume) high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programs with Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) recommendations on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and lifestyle modification, and to examine the relationships between the changes in anxiety and depression with HRQoL and lifestyle variables after myocardial infarction (MI). Participants (n = 80) were randomized to attention control or one of the two supervised HIIT groups (2 d/weeks). Surveys before and after intervention (16 weeks): HRQoL (SF-36), anxiety and depression (HADS), MedDiet adherence (MEDAS), and physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) levels. After intervention, there were improvements ( < .05) in HRQoL, HADS scores, and MedDiet adherence, with higher PA level in both HIIT groups with no between-HIIT group differences. The HADS score decline correlated ( < .05) with both the increase in physical component of SF-36 ( = .42), the overall metabolic expenditure ( = .26), and adherence to the MedDiet ( = .24), and the reduction in the SB ( = .35). HIIT exercise intervention with MedDiet recommendations improved HRQoL, along with reduced anxiety and depression symptoms, and a healthier lifestyle after MI. Better mental health was related to higher values of PA and MedDiet adherence.