Exercise Training in Women With Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of premature death in Canadian women. Women who suffer an acute coronary event are more likely than men to be physically inactive, have lower exercise capacity, and die in the next year. The standard cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs do not meet women's needs. There is a need to address these issues to increase participation in CR. The main purpose of this project is to evaluate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) compared to moderate-intensity continuous exercise training (MICE) on exercise capacity and quality of life in women with CHD. Positive results of this study will fill the gap in knowledge in exercise training, levels of motivation, self-efficacy and enjoyment following HIIT vs. MICE in women with CHD.