A new study spearheaded by researchers at NYU Langone Health has demonstrated that incorporating just an additional hour of physical activity each week may diminish the likelihood of developing the most prevalent type of arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, by 11%.
Atrial fibrillation is characterised by an erratic and rapid beating of the heart’s upper chambers, which, if not managed, can lead to severe complications such as stroke and heart failure. Previous research has consistently indicated a correlation between physical exercise and a decreased risk of this heart condition. However, these studies typically depended on self-reported participant data, which can often be unreliable.
To overcome this limitation, the research team turned to data from Fitbit devices to objectively quantify the physical activity of over 6,000 individuals across the United States. Their findings revealed that higher weekly physical activity levels correlate with a reduced likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation. It is particularly noteworthy that even modest amounts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activities — which could include activities as simple as brisk walking, household chores, swimming, or jogging — were linked to a decreased risk.
The study outlined specific findings: Participants who engaged in 2.5 to 5 hours of exercise per week—aligning with the minimum guidelines suggested by the American Heart Association—experienced a 60% lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation. Those who exercised for more than 5 hours weekly saw an even more significant risk reduction, estimated at 65%.
Preventive cardiologist Sean Heffron, MD, the study’s senior author and an assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, emphasised that significant health benefits could be achieved through moderate activity without engaging in extreme fitness routines like marathon running. Dr Heffron, who also directs the cardiovascular fitness and nutrition at NYU Langone’s Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, highlighted the study’s unique use of activity monitors over a prolonged period, contrasting it with previous studies that only followed participants for a short duration, potentially failing to capture habitual exercise patterns.
This research, the largest of its type thus far, monitored participants for an entire year using Fitbits they already owned and continued to track their health for an additional five years. This study forms part of the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us program, which aims to enhance the representation of historically underrepresented groups in medical research, including racial minorities, women, and rural populations.
Lead author Souptik Barua, PhD, also noted the importance of tools like Fitbits in research for providing an objective measure of exercise over extended periods. This capability allows researchers to gain more nuanced insights into how different activity patterns influence health outcomes. However, he also mentioned that despite the study’s strengths, it primarily included college-educated white women, thus reflecting a less diverse cohort than the overall All of Us population. Plans are underway to include more diverse groups in future studies by providing free devices to participants from underrepresented communities.
Lastly, while the findings strongly suggest a link between physical activity levels and reduced risk of atrial fibrillation, the study was not designed to prove causation definitively prove causation or explore the mechanisms behind this association or other influencing factors such as socioeconomic status.
More information: Souptik Barua et al, Fitbit-measured physical activity is inversely associated with incident atrial fibrillation among All of Us participants, medRxiv. DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.27.24308221
Journal information: medRxiv Provided by NYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine
