Home-based, remotely supervised, high-intensity interval training and cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents with post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans: a randomised controlled trial.
Fernanda Salazar-Pérez, Verónica Sanz-Santiago, Inés de Mir-Messa et al.
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In 30 seconds
This assessor-blinded, multicentre randomised controlled trial evaluated 16 weeks of home-based, real-time remotely supervised high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in children and adolescents aged 6–20 years with post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans. Fifty-one participants were assigned to HIIT or general physical activity recommendations. Compared with control, HIIT improved peak oxygen uptake by a mean difference of 3.39 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ (p=0.04), time to first ventilatory threshold by 1.05 min (p=0.04), and 30-s sit-to-stand repetitions by 2.21 (p=0.04). Other measured clinical and functional variables did not differ.
Key findings
- Peak oxygen uptake improved with HIIT versus control (mean difference 3.39 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹; p=0.04).
- Time to first ventilatory threshold increased by 1.05 min with HIIT versus control (p=0.04).
- The HIIT group completed 2.21 more repetitions on the 30-s sit-to-stand test than control (p=0.04).
- No between-group differences were found in the other measured variables.
Why it matters
Reduced cardiorespiratory fitness and functional capacity can be relevant concerns in young people with PIBO. This trial suggests that structured exercise can improve these outcomes even when delivered at home with remote supervision, offering evidence that exercise-based rehabilitation may be feasible in this population. The findings apply to the outcomes measured over the 16-week intervention.
What to keep in mind
The trial enrolled 51 participants and assessed outcomes after a 16-week intervention; longer-term effects are not reported in the abstract.