Supramaximal High-Intensity Interval Training in People With and Without Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Beyond pulmonary complications, COPD presents with extrapulmonary manifestations including reduced cognitive, cardiovascular, and muscle function. While exercise training is the cornerstone in the non-pharmacological treatment of COPD, there is a need for new exercise training methods. The COPD-HIIT trial intend to investigate the effects and mechanisms of 12 weeks supramaximal high-intensity interval-training (HIIT) compared to moderate intensive continous training (MICT) in people with COPD and matched healthy controls on important clinical outcomes. The trial also intends to compare the effects of 24 months of exercise training (supramaximal HIIT or MICT) to usual care in people with COPD on brain health, cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle power; in people with COPD.