Comparing two exercise programs for women with heart failure
Tests high-intensity interval or moderate continuous training with strength work in women with heart failure.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: High-Intensity Interval Versus Aerobic Training for Patient-Reported Outcomes in Women With Heart Failure.
Key facts
- Where
- Córdoba, SpainSee the site
Where in Spain
- Hospital Universitario Reina SofiaCórdoba, SpainNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Universidad Internacional Isabel I de Castilla
- Trial code
- NCT07925515
- Record updated
- 9 November 2026
- Original description
Heart failure is associated with impaired health-related quality of life and reduced exercise capacity. Women remain under-represented in cardiac rehabilitation research, and evidence comparing high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in women with heart failure is limited.Read full original descriptionShow less
Entrenamiento interválico de Alta Intensidad Versus Entrenamiento aeróbico Para Resultados Reportados Por Pacientes en Mujeres Con Insuficiencia cardíaca (HIIT-WHEF, High-intensity Interval Versus Aerobic Training for Patient-reported Outcomes in Women With Heart Failure): un Ensayo clínico Piloto, Prospectivo, Aleatorizado y de Factibilidad.
Heart failure is associated with impaired health-related quality of life and reduced exercise capacity. Women remain under-represented in cardiac rehabilitation research, and evidence comparing high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in women with heart failure is limited.
HIIT-WHEF is a prospective, single-centre, randomised pilot feasibility trial involving 36 women aged 18 years or older with heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction below 50%. Participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to a 12-week supervised cardiac rehabilitation programme incorporating either HIIT or MICT. Both groups will also undertake individualised resistance training.
The primary objectives are to assess the feasibility and safety of conducting the randomised trial, including recruitment, acceptance, retention, adherence, intervention fidelity, completeness of outcome data and exercise-related adverse events. Health-related quality of life, assessed using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), is the key clinical outcome of interest. Peak oxygen uptake, left ventricular ejection fraction and biomarkers will be assessed as exploratory clinical outcomes.
The study is designed to inform the planning of a future adequately powered confirmatory trial. It is not intended to establish definitive evidence of the superiority of HIIT over MICT.
Inclusion: Women aged 18 years or older; Documented diagnosis of heart failure with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) below 50%; Stable symptoms corresponding to New York Heart Association functional class I-II; Clinically stable and receiving stable, guideline-directed medical treatment at the maximum tolerated doses, as appropriate; Referred by the responsible cardiologist for cardiac rehabilitation according to usual clinical practice; No contraindication to supervised cardiac rehabilitation, cardiopulmonary exercise testing or the allocated exercise intervention; Written informed consent provided before enrolment.
Exclusion: Acute coronary syndrome or cardiac surgery within the previous 15 days; Uncontrolled arrhythmias; Severe valvular heart disease with an indication for intervention; Clinical or haemodynamic instability, decompensated heart failure, unstable angina, clinically significant uncontrolled arrhythmias, or any other cardiovascular or non-cardiovascular condition that, in the judgement of the responsible clinical team, makes exercise unsafe at the time of assessment; Musculoskeletal or neurological limitations that prevent the performance of exercise; Any contraindication to cardiopulmonary exercise testing or high-intensity exercise training.