Atrial FibrillationHALT-AFNCT03241433
High-Intensity Aerobic Lifelong Training--AF
A study testing High intensity interval training, Moderate intensity continuous training and No Exercise in people with Atrial Fibrillation, run by University of Minnesota at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study is a single-center RCT. Potential subjects with symptomatic non-permanent AF will be enrolled to determine the effect of sprint interval training (SIT) in comparison to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and non-exercise control in reducing AF burden. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Atrial Fibrillation
- What is being tested?
- High intensity interval training, Moderate intensity continuous training and No Exercise
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 27 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 May 2018to 4 Oct 2021
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- : Patients with symptomatic non-permanent AF and aged 18-65 years who are sedentary (activity ≤0.5 hours/week of regular exercise) and seen by Dr. Chen or his cardiology colleagues at Clinics and Surgery Center (CSC), other Fairview cardiology clinics, and University of Minnesota Medical Center (UMMC). Patients will be screened and enrolled by a research coordinator.
Who cannot join
- Individuals lacking the capacity to consent for themselves will not be included, previous open heart surgery, previous catheter ablation for AF, LVEF <45%, significant cardiac valve disease, coronary heart disease without complete revascularization, implanted cardiac electronic device, or GFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455
About this study
Official title: High-Intensity Interval Training and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training in Reducing Atrial Fibrillation Burden
This study is a single-center RCT. Potential subjects with symptomatic non-permanent AF will be enrolled to determine the effect of sprint interval training (SIT) in comparison to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and non-exercise control in reducing AF burden. The Investigators will enroll 60 patients during the first 12 months of the study. Baseline data collection will be conducted during the first month after enrollment. After baseline data collection, subjects will be randomized (1:1:1) to SIT vs. MICT vs. non-exercise controls. The exercise training will last for 3 months followed by final data collection which will be completed in 1 month.
Read the detailed description
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm abnormality in the general population. Current recommended methods to maintain sinus rhythm or reduce AF burden (% time a person is in AF) in patients with non-permanent AF are costly and ineffective. Hence, there is an urgent need to discover novel inexpensive strategies to reduce AF burden. It is well-established that regular aerobic exercise reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; however, adherence to regular exercise is poor rendering it an ineffective public health strategy. Evidence is emerging to suggest that traditional moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) may be associated with lower AF burden. Compared with traditional MICT, HIIT is possibly more time-efficient; hence, it may promote adherence. Since lack of time is the most common reason for poor adherence to regular exercise, the time-efficiency of HIIT holds promise to be a "game-changer". However, many knowledge gaps remain. First, HIIT has never been compared directly with MICT in relation to AF burden; thus, whether HIIT is comparable or superior to MICT is unknown. Second, the time commitment required for a "conventional" HIIT program (120 mins/week) is not substantially less than the recommended MICT (150 mins/week); hence, it is doubtful that it can be a real "game-changer" in terms of promoting adherence. Third, HIIT performed using a cycle ergometer is a safer alternative to the treadmill in older adults, but has not been evaluated in patients with AF. Finally, mechanisms underlying the salutary benefits of exercise in relation to AF burden remain unknown. To address these knowledge gaps, the investigators will evaluate an innovative HIIT program-sprint interval training (SIT)-using a cycle ergometer that only requires 10 minutes per session and 30 minutes per week, in contrast to the "conventional" HIIT program that requires 40 minutes per session and 120 minutes per week. In this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT), the investigators will randomize 60 subjects with non-permanent AF (1:1:1) to SIT vs. MICT vs. no exercise control. At enrollment, these subjects will undergo heart rhythm monitoring by a non-invasive ambulatory heart rhythm monitor, V02 max testing, assessment of cardiac size and function by cardiac MRI, and assessment of AF symptom severity; these measures will be repeated at 3 months.
- Conditions
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Being tested
- High intensity interval training, Moderate intensity continuous training, No Exercise
- Keywords
- Exercise
- Medical subject headings
- Atrial Fibrillation, Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
High intensity interval trainingOther
exercise by use of stationary cycles
Moderate intensity continuous trainingOther
exercise by use of stationary cycles
No ExerciseOther
no exercise training will be given and no exercise will be added to subjects routine
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| High intensity interval training | Active comparator | Exercise training will be conducted 3 times per week using cycle ergometers at commercial fitness facilities for 12 weeks 2 minute warmup/3 minute cooldown- at 50W Intensity- 3 X 20-second sprint interval cycling -as fast as possible at 90-95% peak power low intensity- 2 X 2 minute cycling at slow pace 50W Receives: Other: High intensity interval training |
| Moderate intensity continuous training | Active comparator | Exercise training will be conducted 3 times per week using cycle ergometers at commercial fitness facilities for 12 weeks 2 minute warmup/3 minute cooldown- at 50W Intensity- 45 minutes of continuous cycling at 45-60% peak power Receives: Other: Moderate intensity continuous training |
| No exercise | Active comparator | No excercise training will be done Receives: Other: No Exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in AF burden
After 12 weeks of exercise training , HIIT and MICT will be comparable but better than non-exercise control in AFburden(% of time a person is in AF) by using an ambulatory patch monitor
Measured: 3 months
Secondary outcomes (2)
Change in left atrial and left ventricular size and function
After 12 weeks of exercise training HIIT and MICT will be comparable but better than non-exercise control as Cardiac MRI will be completed to assess LV and LA volumes and function and LV fibrosis
Measured: 3 months
change in clinical outcomes
The favorable effect of HIIT and MICT over non exercise control on clinical outcomes will be attenuated after after for secondary outcomes, suggesting that the latter mediate the clinical benefits of regular aerobic exercise
Measured: 3 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Aug 2017
- Study start1 May 2018
- Primary completion4 Oct 2021
- Study completion4 Oct 2021
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Atrial FibrillationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 27 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Minnesota
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Lin Yee Chen, MD,MBBS,MS, Principal investigator, University of Minnesota
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03241433
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1703M11461
- Acronym
- HALT-AF
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Jul 2017
- Last updated
- 28 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- High-Intensity Interval Training and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training in Reducing Atrial Fibrillation Burden
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03241433
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HALT-AF / 1703M11461
- Conditions
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Keywords
- Exercise
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 27 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of MinnesotaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 May 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 4 Oct 2021 (actual)
- Study completion
- 4 Oct 2021 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 Aug 2017 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is a single-center RCT. Potential subjects with symptomatic non-permanent AF will be enrolled to determine the effect of sprint interval training (SIT) in comparison to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and non-exercise control in reducing AF burden. The Investigators will enroll 60 patients during the first 12 months of the study. Baseline data collection will be conducted during the first month after enrollment. After baseline data collection, subjects will be randomized (1:1:1) to SIT vs. MICT vs. non-exercise controls. The exercise training will last for 3 months followed by final data collection which will be completed in 1 month.
Detailed description
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm abnormality in the general population. Current recommended methods to maintain sinus rhythm or reduce AF burden (% time a person is in AF) in patients with non-permanent AF are costly and ineffective. Hence, there is an urgent need to discover novel inexpensive strategies to reduce AF burden. It is well-established that regular aerobic exercise reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; however, adherence to regular exercise is poor rendering it an ineffective public health strategy. Evidence is emerging to suggest that traditional moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) may be associated with lower AF burden. Compared with traditional MICT, HIIT is possibly more time-efficient; hence, it may promote adherence. Since lack of time is the most common reason for poor adherence to regular exercise, the time-efficiency of HIIT holds promise to be a "game-changer". However, many knowledge gaps remain. First, HIIT has never been compared directly with MICT in relation to AF burden; thus, whether HIIT is comparable or superior to MICT is unknown. Second, the time commitment required for a "conventional" HIIT program (120 mins/week) is not substantially less than the recommended MICT (150 mins/week); hence, it is doubtful that it can be a real "game-changer" in terms of promoting adherence. Third, HIIT performed using a cycle ergometer is a safer alternative to the treadmill in older adults, but has not been evaluated in patients with AF. Finally, mechanisms underlying the salutary benefits of exercise in relation to AF burden remain unknown. To address these knowledge gaps, the investigators will evaluate an innovative HIIT program-sprint interval training (SIT)-using a cycle ergometer that only requires 10 minutes per session and 30 minutes per week, in contrast to the "conventional" HIIT program that requires 40 minutes per session and 120 minutes per week. In this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT), the investigators will randomize 60 subjects with non-permanent AF (1:1:1) to SIT vs. MICT vs. no exercise control. At enrollment, these subjects will undergo heart rhythm monitoring by a non-invasive ambulatory heart rhythm monitor, V02 max testing, assessment of cardiac size and function by cardiac MRI, and assessment of AF symptom severity; these measures will be repeated at 3 months.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| High intensity interval training | Active comparator | Other: High intensity interval trainingExercise training will be conducted 3 times per week using cycle ergometers at commercial fitness facilities for 12 weeks 2 minute warmup/3 minute cooldown- at 50W Intensity- 3 X 20-second sprint interval cycling -as fast as possible at 90-95% peak power low intensity- 2 X 2 minute cycling at slow pace 50W |
| Moderate intensity continuous training | Active comparator | Other: Moderate intensity continuous trainingExercise training will be conducted 3 times per week using cycle ergometers at commercial fitness facilities for 12 weeks 2 minute warmup/3 minute cooldown- at 50W Intensity- 45 minutes of continuous cycling at 45-60% peak power |
| No exercise | Active comparator | Other: No ExerciseNo excercise training will be done |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- : Patients with symptomatic non-permanent AF and aged 18-65 years who are sedentary (activity ≤0.5 hours/week of regular exercise) and seen by Dr. Chen or his cardiology colleagues at Clinics and Surgery Center (CSC), other Fairview cardiology clinics, and University of Minnesota Medical Center (UMMC). Patients will be screened and enrolled by a research coordinator.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Individuals lacking the capacity to consent for themselves will not be included, previous open heart surgery, previous catheter ablation for AF, LVEF <45%, significant cardiac valve disease, coronary heart disease without complete revascularization, implanted cardiac electronic device, or GFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| High intensity interval trainingexercise by use of stationary cycles | Other | High intensity interval training |
| Moderate intensity continuous trainingexercise by use of stationary cycles | Other | Moderate intensity continuous training |
| No Exerciseno exercise training will be given and no exercise will be added to subjects routine | Other | No exercise |
Primary outcome
Change in AF burden
Time frame: 3 months
After 12 weeks of exercise training , HIIT and MICT will be comparable but better than non-exercise control in AFburden(% of time a person is in AF) by using an ambulatory patch monitor
2 secondary outcomes
Change in left atrial and left ventricular size and function
Time frame: 3 months
change in clinical outcomes
Time frame: 3 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Lin Yee Chen, MD,MBBS,MS principal investigator
University of Minnesota
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing High intensity interval training, Moderate intensity continuous training and No Exercise in people with Atrial Fibrillation, run by University of Minnesota at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in AF burden (time frame: 3 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Oct 2026.