Research Article

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Chronic Diseases: An Emerging Trend in the Scientific Literature? A Bibliometric Analysis

Number: 28 April 29, 2026
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High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Chronic Diseases: An Emerging Trend in the Scientific Literature? A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Aim: This study performs a bibliometric analysis to identify scientific trends regarding the effects of high-intensity interval training on individuals with chronic diseases. 
Method: A total of 1 312 English language articles obtained from the Web of Science database and published between 1989 and 2025 were evaluated. Within the scope of the study, only “article”-type publications were included, and language and index (SCIE, SSCI, ESCI) filters were applied. Publications were analyzed using VOSviewer software in terms of distribution by year, country collaborations, keyword clusters, time trends, and citation analysis. 
Results: According to the results of the analysis, a significant increase in publications on HIIT and chronic diseases was observed after 2016. Canada, the UK, Australia, and Iran are among the most productive countries, while the US, despite having a central position on the map of inter-country collaboration, did not make it to the top 10 in the number of publications. 
Conclusion: Keyword clusters revealed that HIIT was intensively studied in relation to metabolic and cardiovascular disorders such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. Citation analysis findings show that articles on heart diseases, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance are prominent. The findings indicate that HIIT has been adopted not only for athletic performance enhancement but also as an effective intervention tool in the management of chronic diseases. 

Keywords

References

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  2. 2. Cassidy S, Thoma C, Houghton D, Trenell MI. High-intensity interval training: A review of its impact on glucose control and cardiometabolic health. Diabetologia. 2017;60(1):7-23.
  3. 3. Nicolò A, Girardi M. The physiology of interval training: A new target to HIIT. The Journal of Physiology. 2016;594(24):7169. doi: 10.1113/JP273466.
  4. 4. Hillman CH, Erickson KI, Kramer AF. Be smart, exercise your heart: Exercise effects on brain and cognition. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2008;9(1):58-65.
  5. 5. Kao SC, Westfall DR, Soneson J, Gurd B, Hillman CH. Comparison of the acute effects of high‐intensity interval training and continuous aerobic walking on inhibitory control. Psychophysiology. 2017;54(9):1335-1345. doi: 10.1111/psyp.12889.
  6. 6. Fang B, Kim Y, Choi M. Effect of cycle-based high-intensity interval training and moderate to moderate-intensity continuous training in adolescent soccer players. In Healthcare. 2021;(9)12:1628.
  7. 7. Campbell E, Coulter EH, Paul L. High intensity interval training for people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. 2018;24:55-63.
  8. 8. Lee S, Spector J, Reilly S. High-intensity interval training programme for obese youth (HIP4YOUTH): A pilot feasibility study. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2017;35(18):1794-1798. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2016.1237671.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Sports Training

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

April 29, 2026

Publication Date

April 29, 2026

Submission Date

November 13, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 30, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 28

APA
Aksoy, Ö. (2026). High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Chronic Diseases: An Emerging Trend in the Scientific Literature? A Bibliometric Analysis. İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 28, 314-329. https://doi.org/10.38079/igusabder.1822957
AMA
1.Aksoy Ö. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Chronic Diseases: An Emerging Trend in the Scientific Literature? A Bibliometric Analysis. IGUSABDER. 2026;(28):314-329. doi:10.38079/igusabder.1822957
Chicago
Aksoy, Ömer. 2026. “High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Chronic Diseases: An Emerging Trend in the Scientific Literature? A Bibliometric Analysis”. İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, nos. 28: 314-29. https://doi.org/10.38079/igusabder.1822957.
EndNote
Aksoy Ö (April 1, 2026) High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Chronic Diseases: An Emerging Trend in the Scientific Literature? A Bibliometric Analysis. İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 28 314–329.
IEEE
[1]Ö. Aksoy, “High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Chronic Diseases: An Emerging Trend in the Scientific Literature? A Bibliometric Analysis”, IGUSABDER, no. 28, pp. 314–329, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.38079/igusabder.1822957.
ISNAD
Aksoy, Ömer. “High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Chronic Diseases: An Emerging Trend in the Scientific Literature? A Bibliometric Analysis”. İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 28 (April 1, 2026): 314-329. https://doi.org/10.38079/igusabder.1822957.
JAMA
1.Aksoy Ö. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Chronic Diseases: An Emerging Trend in the Scientific Literature? A Bibliometric Analysis. IGUSABDER. 2026;:314–329.
MLA
Aksoy, Ömer. “High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Chronic Diseases: An Emerging Trend in the Scientific Literature? A Bibliometric Analysis”. İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, no. 28, Apr. 2026, pp. 314-29, doi:10.38079/igusabder.1822957.
Vancouver
1.Ömer Aksoy. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Chronic Diseases: An Emerging Trend in the Scientific Literature? A Bibliometric Analysis. IGUSABDER. 2026 Apr. 1;(28):314-29. doi:10.38079/igusabder.1822957

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