Aerobic Interval Training Integrated In Collaborative Care Of Outpatients With Schizophrenia: One-year Outcomes

Although aerobic interval training (AIT) is recognised to attenuate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and premature mortality, it appears that it rarely arrives at patients’ doorsteps. PURPOSE: This study investigated 1-year outcomes when AIT was integrated with municipal and specialised health service in collaborative care of outpatients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Forty-eight outpatients (28 men, 35±10 (SD) years; 20 women, 35±12 years) with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (ICD10) were randomised to either a collaborative care group provided transportation and training supervision and walking/running 4x4-minutes at ~90% of peak heart rate (HRpeak) 2 d·wk-1 (TG), or a control group (CG) given 2 introductory AIT sessionsand advised to continue training. RESULTS: Directly assessed peak oxygen uptake (V̇ O2peak) increased in the TG (3-months: 2.7±3.1 mL·kg-1·min-1; 6-months: 3.2±3.0 mL·kg-1·min-1; 1-year: 3.3±3.1 mL·kg-1·min-1; all p