Cost-effectiveness of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) vs Moderate Intensity Steady-State (MISS) Training in UK Cardiac Rehabilitation

•In a recent randomized controlled trial, high-intensity interval exercise training (HIIT) was more effective than moderate intensity steady-state (MISS) exercise training for improving cardiorespiratory fitness in people with coronary artery disease attending cardiac rehabilitation. HIIT was also safe and well tolerated. We conducted a secondary health economic analysis to find out if HIIT or MISS exercise training was more cost-effective.•HIIT participants reported slightly higher health service use costs than MISS participants at 12 months.•HIIT participants reported greater gains in quality of life at 12 months.•HIIT was cost effective compared with MISS. To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) compared with moderate intensity steady-state (MISS) training in people with coronary artery disease (CAD) attending cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Secondary cost-effectiveness analysis of a prospective, assessor-blind, parallel group, multi-center RCT. Six outpatient National Health Service cardiac rehabilitation centers in England and Wales, UK. 382 participants with CAD (N=382). Participants were randomized to twice-weekly usual care (n=195) or HIIT (n=187) for 8 weeks. Usual care was moderate intensity continuous exercise (60%-80% maximum capacity, MISS), while HIIT consisted of 10 × 1-minute intervals of vigorous exercise (>85% maximum capacity) interspersed with 1-minute periods of recovery. We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of the HIIT or MISS UK trial. Health related quality of life was measured with the EQ-5D-5L to estimate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Costs were estimated with health service resource use and intervention delivery costs. Cost-utility analysis measured the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Bootstrapping assessed the probability of HIIT being cost-effective according to the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) threshold value (£20,000 per QALY). Missing data were imputed. Uncertainty was estimated using probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Assumptions were tested using univariate/1-way sensitivity analysis. 124 (HIIT, n=59; MISS, n=65) participants completed questionnaires at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 months. Mean combined health care use and delivery cost was £676 per participant for HIIT, and £653 for MISS. QALY changes were 0.003 and -0.013, respectively. For complete cases, the ICER was £1448 per QALY for HIIT compared with MISS. At a willingne