Physical activity, resting heart rate, and atrial fibrillation: The Tromsø Study

Journal article


Morseth, Bente, Graff-Iversen, Sidsel, Jacobsen, Bjarne K., Jorgensen, Lone, Nyrnes, Audhild, Thelle, Dag S., Vestergaard, Peter and Loechen, Maja-Lisa. (2016). Physical activity, resting heart rate, and atrial fibrillation: The Tromsø Study. European Heart Journal. 37(29), pp. 2307 - 2313. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehw059
AuthorsMorseth, Bente, Graff-Iversen, Sidsel, Jacobsen, Bjarne K., Jorgensen, Lone, Nyrnes, Audhild, Thelle, Dag S., Vestergaard, Peter and 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.

KeywordsExercise; Physical activity; Atrial fibrillation; Resting heart rate; Arrhythmia
Year2016
JournalEuropean Heart Journal
Journal citation37 (29), pp. 2307 - 2313
PublisherOxford University Press
ISSN0195-668X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehw059
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84975716503
Page range2307 - 2313
Research GroupMary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
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