Baseline characteristics
| Variable | HIIT (n=13) | CON (n=15) |
| Gender (women/men) | 4/9 | 3/12 |
| Age (years) | 52.5±7.4 | 49.9±9.7 |
| Body weight (kg) | 121±27 | 118±22 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 38.5±7.0 | 37.7±4.8 |
| Fat mass (%) | 39.5±9.2 | 38.1±7.3 |
| Skeletal muscle mass (%) | 27.9±3.7 | 28.1±3.6 |
| Resting heart rate (beats/min) | 86±13 | 84±13 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 133±16 | 138±15 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 80±13 | 84±10 |
| Sleep apnoea duration (months) | 51±49 | 88±58 |
| CPAP users (n) | 11 | 12 |
| Atrial fibrillation (n) | 2 | 0 |
| Hypertension (n) | 5 | 4 |
| Diabetes type 1 or 2 (n/n) | 1/1 | 1/2 |
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| AHI (events/hour) | 31.4±21.7 * | 50.3±25.5 |
| Epworth score | 10.0±3.6 * | 5.9±4.3 |
| O2 saturation (%) | 92.4±1.6 | 91.6±1.6 |
| O2 desaturation events (n/hour) | 36.9±18.6 | 55.8±28.6 |
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| Insulin (pmol/L) | 120.4±64.5 | 149.6±127.4 |
| Cholesterol (mmol/L) | 5.2±1.0 | 5.3±1.2 |
| LDL (mmol/L) | 3.3±0.9 | 3.3±1.1 |
| HDL (mmol/L) | 1.2±0.2 | 1.1±0.3 |
| Triglycerides (mmol/L) | 1.53±0.65 | 1.94±1.05 |
| Leptin (pmol/L) | 1747±1419 | 1657±1261 |
| HbA1c (%) | 5.8±0.3 | 5.9±0.6 |
| CRP (mg/L) | 6.3±2.1 | 8.3±7.2 |
| TSH (mU/L) | 1.76±0.72 | 2.21±0.85 |
| T4 (pmol/L) | 15.7±2.2 | 15.2±2.0 |
| Hb (g/dL) | 14.5±1.0 | 14.9±1.5 |
| HCT (%) | 43±3 | 43±4 |
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| FVC (L) | 4.31±0.87 | 4.38±0.77 |
| Predicted FVC (%) | 92.4±12.4 | 91.3±15.3 |
| FEV1 (L) | 3.36±0.57 | 3.39±0.58 |
| Predicted FEV1 (%) | 88.3±10.0 | 86.6±14.3 |
| IVC (L) | 4.22±0.93 | 4.34±0.79 |
| Predicted IVC (%) | 96.1±18.6 | 91.4±16.2 |
| FEV1/FVC | 78.3±4.3 | 76.3±4.5 |
| TLCO (mmol/min//kPa) | 10.4±1.6 | 9.8±2.1 |
| Predicted TLCO (%) | 102.9±13.04 | 95.3±15.7 |
| KCO (mmol/min/kPa) | 1.78±0.17 | 1.63±0.24 |
| Predicted KCO (%) | 119±12 | 109±16 |
Description of subjects at study baseline, including demographics, sleep evaluation, blood and clinical biomarkers and pulmonary function.
*Significant group difference at baseline (p≤0.05).
AHI, apnoea–hypopnea index; BMI, body mass index; CON, control group; CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure; CRP, C reactive protein; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC, forced vital capacity; Hb, haemoglobin; HCT, haematocrit; HBA1C, glycolysed haemoglobin A1c; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; HITT, high-intensity interval training; IVC, inspiratory vital capacity; KCO, transfer coefficient; LDL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; O2, oxygen; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone; T4, thyroxin; TLCO, single-breath transfer factor of the lung/pulmonary diffusion capacity.