22 August 2023, Mumbai: New research presented at ESC Congress 2023 highlights the beneficial impact of physical activity on heart health. The study involving over 15,000 participants underscores the association between engaging in physical activity and a reduced risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke. Atrial fibrillation, the most prevalent heart rhythm disorder globally, affects over 40 million people, with estimates indicating that one in three Europeans will experience this condition during their lifetime.
Risk Factors and Complications
Patients with atrial fibrillation face a five-fold higher risk of stroke compared to their peers. Recognizing the substantial health implications of this condition, the study aimed to investigate the relationship between fitness levels and the risk of atrial fibrillation, stroke, and major adverse cardiovascular events.
Investigating Fitness and Heart Health
The study encompassed 15,450 individuals without prior atrial fibrillation, all of whom underwent a treadmill test between 2003 and 2012. The average age of the participants was 55 years, with 59 percent being men. The researchers evaluated the participants’ energy expenditure rates, measured in metabolic equivalents (METs), during the treadmill test.
Long-Term Monitoring and Outcomes
Over a median follow-up period of 137 months, 515 participants (3.3 percent) developed atrial fibrillation. The study’s findings unveiled a significant relationship between fitness levels and the occurrence of atrial fibrillation, stroke, and major adverse cardiovascular events. Even after accounting for various factors that could potentially influence the outcomes, such as age, sex, cholesterol levels, kidney function, prior stroke, hypertension, and medications, the associations remained notable.
Benefits of Fitness on Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke
A remarkable finding of the study indicated that each one MET increase achieved during the treadmill test correlated with an 8 percent reduction in the risk of atrial fibrillation, a 12 percent decrease in the risk of stroke, and a 14 percent reduction in the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.
Fitness Categories and Risk Profile
The participants were categorized into three fitness levels based on their METs achieved during the treadmill test: low (less than 8.57 METs), medium (8.57 to 10.72), and high (more than 10.72). This categorization allowed for a comparison of the probability of developing atrial fibrillation among the fitness groups. Over a five-year span, the likelihood of remaining free from atrial fibrillation was 97.1 percent in the low fitness group, 98.4 percent in the medium fitness group, and 98.4 percent in the high fitness group.
Implications for Heart Health
Dr. Shih-Hsien Sung, the study’s author from the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taipei, Taiwan, emphasized the study’s significance. He highlighted that the research was extensive, employing an objective measurement of fitness and encompassing over 11 years of follow-up. The findings emphasize that maintaining physical fitness may serve as a preventive measure against the development of atrial fibrillation and stroke.