INTRODUCTION
obesity, T2D, inflammation, pain, CAD, tiredness, depression, Atherosclerosis
OBESITY, HEART DISEASE, INFLAMMATION, DISEASE, HYPOGLYCEMIA, CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, ATHEROSCLEROSIS, CAD
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of heart disease. Following coronary artery revascularization, patients with CAD are referred to cardiovascular rehabilitation programs to improve patients' physical and mental health (Luepker et al., Individuals who suffer from T2D often experience difficulties in engaging in regular exercise due to physical discomforts associated with their disease (e.g., fear of injury, pain related to movement, hypoglycemia, and tiredness), as well as psychological factors affecting their participation in exercise (e.g., depression, shame, lack of motivation, laziness, and fear of the perception of others) (Korkiakangas et al.,  Atherosclerosis is driven by the accumulation of cholesterol within the arterial wall and chronic non‐resolving inflammation (Libby et al., The current study assessed the impact of 12 weeks of HIIT‐ or MICT‐based cardiovascular rehabilitation on plasma cytokine concentrations in patients with CAD with or without T2D. We examined 11 target cytokines (IL‐1b, TNF‐a, CRP, secreted protein acidic rich in cysteine [SPARC], fibroblast growth factor 21 [FGF21], IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, IL‐13, IL‐15, and IL‐18) known to be altered in the presence of obesity and/or T2D, and to be regulated by acute and/or chronic exercise (Garneau & Aguer, 