Asthma and high-intensity interval training have no effect on clustered cardiometabolic risk or arterial stiffness in adolescents

PURPOSE: Cardiometabolic risk, including arterial stiffness, is increasing in youth. Those with asthma are suggested to be particularly at risk of cardiovascular disease. Efficient and effective strategies are required to prevent the atherosclerotic process in youth. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 6 months high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiometabolic risk in youth with and without asthma. METHODS: 65 adolescents (31 mild asthma; 34 non-asthma) were recruited, 32 (16 asthma) of whom were randomly allocated to receive HIIT three times per week for 6 months. At baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention and at a 3-month follow-up, anthropometric, metabolic and vascular determinants of cardiometabolic risk were assessed. Following principal component analysis (PCA), linear mixed models were used to assess the influence of asthma, HIIT and their interaction. RESULTS: Seven factors were identified which explained 88% of the common variance shared among the parameters. Those with asthma demonstrated lower arterial stiffness factor scores mid-intervention (P = 0.047) and lower cholesterol factor scores post-intervention (P = 0.022) but there was no effect of the intervention, or interaction effects, on any PCA-identified factor, at any time-point. HIIT was associated with a lower low-density lipoprotein and diastolic blood pressure at mid-intervention. DISCUSSION: Neither arterial stiffness nor clustered cardiometabolic risk are influenced by HIIT in adolescents with or without asthma, despite important changes in blood lipid and pressure profiles. Blood pressure, augmentation and pulse wave velocity should be considered physiologically distinct constructs and as potential markers of cardiovascular health.