Abstract:Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of exercise rehabilitation with different intensities in patients with stable coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods From March 2023 to March 2025, a total of 107 patients with stable coronary heart disease after PCI admitted to this hospital were enrolled. Using a random number table method, they were divided into a control group (n = 54), which received moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), and an observation group (n = 53), which received high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Exercise capacity indices, pulmonary function and endurance parameters, cardiac function indicators, biochemical markers, and disease-specific quality of life were compared between the two groups.Results The changes in VO2 peak, anaerobic threshold (AT), exercise duration (ED), and peak power (PP) were greater in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The improvements in maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) were also greater in the observation group (P < 0.05). The observation group showed more pronounced increases in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and greater reductions in left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) (P < 0.05). The decreases in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were more significant in the observation group (P < 0.05). In addition, the change in Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) score was larger in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05).Conclusion Compared with MICT, HIIT more effectively enhances cardiopulmonary function, promotes reverse cardiac remodeling, reduces neuroendocrine activation and inflammatory responses, and improves quality of life in patients after PCI. HIIT is recommended for wider clinical application.