Effects of high intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiopulmonary fitness and physical function in middle-aged and elderly women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Limin Cai, Jintao Guo, Ruohan Zhang, Jinfa Gu, Longtao Zhao, Jianzhong Wu, Yueyang Yu, Si Chen

Abstract readSystematic Review

In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in physiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Limin Cai *Department of Physical Education, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, China.

Jintao Guo *College of Competitive Sports, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.

Ruohan ZhangExercise and Sports Science Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.

Jinfa GuExercise and Sports Science Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.

Longtao ZhaoCollege of Competitive Sports, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.

Jianzhong WuCollege of Competitive Sports, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.

Yueyang YuCollege of Competitive Sports, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.

Si ChenCollege of Physical Education and Health Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: To systematically evaluate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiorespiratory fitness and physical function in middle-aged and older women. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from inception to November 2025. Randomized controlled trials comparing HIIT with control interventions in middle-aged and older women were included. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed. Primary outcomes were maximal or peak oxygen uptake (VO Results: Nineteen randomized controlled trials were included. Meta-analysis showed that HIIT significantly improved VO Conclusion: HIIT significantly improves cardiorespiratory fitness in middle-aged and older women but shows limited effects on physical function. HIIT alone is insufficient to comprehensively improve functional performance. Systematic Review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251272861.

Indexed as

high-intensity interval trainingmeta-analysisolder womenphysical functionVO2max

Identifiers

PMID41859736

DOI10.3389/fphys.2026.1778052

PMCPMC12995631

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.