TY - JOUR
T1 - Association between physical activity and risk of incident arrhythmias in 402 406 individuals
T2 - Evidence from the UK Biobank cohort
AU - Elliott, Adrian D.
AU - Linz, Dominik
AU - Mishima, Ricardo
AU - Kadhim, Kadhim
AU - Gallagher, Celine
AU - Middeldorp, Melissa E.
AU - Verdicchio, Christian V.
AU - Hendriks, Jeroen M.L.
AU - Lau, Dennis H.
AU - La Gerche, Andre
AU - Sanders, Prashanthan
PY - 2020/4/14
Y1 - 2020/4/14
N2 - Aims: Physical activity reduces cardiovascular disease burden and mortality, although its relationship with cardiac arrhythmias is less certain. The aim of this study was to assess the association between self-reported physical activity and atrial fibrillation (AF), ventricular arrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias, across the UK Biobank cohort. Methods and results: We included 402 406 individuals (52.5% female), aged 40-69 years, with over 2.8 million person-years of follow-up who underwent self-reported physical activity assessment computed in metabolic equivalent-minutes per week (MET-min/wk) at baseline, detailed physical assessment and medical history evaluation. Arrhythmia episodes were diagnosed through hospital admissions and death reports. Incident AF risk was lower amongst physically active participants, with a more pronounced reduction amongst female participants [hazard ratio (HR) for 1500 vs. 0 MET-min/wk: 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74-0.98] than males (HR for 1500 vs. 0 MET-min/wk: 0.90, 95% CI 0.82-1.0). Similarly, we observed a significantly lower risk of ventricular arrhythmias amongst physically active participants (HR for 1500 MET-min/wk 0.78, 95% CI 0.64-0.96) that remained relatively stable over a broad range of physical activity levels between 0 and 2500 MET-min/wk. A lower AF risk amongst female participants who engaged in moderate levels of vigorous physical activity was observed (up to 2500 MET-min/wk). Vigorous physical activity was also associated with reduced ventricular arrhythmia risk. Total or vigorous physical activity was not associated with bradyarrhythmias. Conclusion: The risk of AF and ventricular arrhythmias is lower amongst physically active individuals. These findings provide observational support that physical activity is associated with reduced risk of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.
AB - Aims: Physical activity reduces cardiovascular disease burden and mortality, although its relationship with cardiac arrhythmias is less certain. The aim of this study was to assess the association between self-reported physical activity and atrial fibrillation (AF), ventricular arrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias, across the UK Biobank cohort. Methods and results: We included 402 406 individuals (52.5% female), aged 40-69 years, with over 2.8 million person-years of follow-up who underwent self-reported physical activity assessment computed in metabolic equivalent-minutes per week (MET-min/wk) at baseline, detailed physical assessment and medical history evaluation. Arrhythmia episodes were diagnosed through hospital admissions and death reports. Incident AF risk was lower amongst physically active participants, with a more pronounced reduction amongst female participants [hazard ratio (HR) for 1500 vs. 0 MET-min/wk: 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74-0.98] than males (HR for 1500 vs. 0 MET-min/wk: 0.90, 95% CI 0.82-1.0). Similarly, we observed a significantly lower risk of ventricular arrhythmias amongst physically active participants (HR for 1500 MET-min/wk 0.78, 95% CI 0.64-0.96) that remained relatively stable over a broad range of physical activity levels between 0 and 2500 MET-min/wk. A lower AF risk amongst female participants who engaged in moderate levels of vigorous physical activity was observed (up to 2500 MET-min/wk). Vigorous physical activity was also associated with reduced ventricular arrhythmia risk. Total or vigorous physical activity was not associated with bradyarrhythmias. Conclusion: The risk of AF and ventricular arrhythmias is lower amongst physically active individuals. These findings provide observational support that physical activity is associated with reduced risk of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.
KW - Atrial fibrillation
KW - Bradyarrhythmias
KW - Exercise
KW - Physical activity
KW - Ventricular arrhythmias
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85081971883&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz897
DO - 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz897
M3 - Article
C2 - 31951255
AN - SCOPUS:85081971883
VL - 41
SP - 1479
EP - 1486
JO - European Heart Journal
JF - European Heart Journal
SN - 0195-668X
IS - 15
ER -