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Physical activity, resting heart rate, and atrial fibrillation: The Tromsø Study
Morseth, Bente Graff-Iversen, Sidsel Jacobsen, Bjarne K. Jorgensen, Lone Nyrnes, Audhild Thelle, Dag S. Vestergaard, Peter Loechen, Maja-Lisa
Morseth, Bente
Graff-Iversen, Sidsel
Jacobsen, Bjarne K.
Jorgensen, Lone
Nyrnes, Audhild
Thelle, Dag S.
Vestergaard, Peter
Loechen, Maja-Lisa
Abstract
Aims The objective was to examine the association of physical activity and resting heart rate (RHR) with hospital-diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) in a Norwegian cohort. Methods and results This prospective study included 20 484 adults (50.3% men) who participated in the third Tromsø Study survey in 1986–87. At baseline, physical activity was assessed by a validated questionnaire, and RHR was objectively measured. Participants were followed from baseline through 2010 with respect to incident cases of hospital-diagnosed AF documented on an electrocardiogram. During a mean follow-up period of 20 years (409 045 person-years), 750 participants (70.5% men) were diagnosed with AF. Compared with the low physical activity group, moderately active individuals had a 19% lower risk of any AF [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68–0.97], whereas highly active had similar risk of AF. Vigorously active individuals showed a non-significantly higher risk of AF (adjusted HR 1.37, 95% CI 0.77–2.43). Risk of AF increased with decreasing RHR (adjusted HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86–0.98 for each 10 b.p.m. increase in RHR), and RHR < 50 b.p.m. was a risk factor for AF (P < 0.05). Conclusion In this prospective cohort study, leisure time physical activity was associated with AF in a J-shaped pattern. Moderate physical activity was associated with a reduced risk of AF, whereas higher activity levels attenuated the benefits of moderate activity. Low RHR was a risk factor for AF. Our results support the hypothesis that moderate and vigorous physical activity may affect AF risk via different pathophysiological mechanisms.
Keywords
Exercise, Physical activity, Atrial fibrillation, Resting heart rate, Arrhythmia
Date
2016
Type
Journal article
Journal
European Heart Journal
Book
Volume
37
Issue
29
Page Range
2307-2313
Article Number
ACU Department
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled