- Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an abnormal heart rhythm that can harm cardiovascular health.
- Study findings presented at the ESC Congress 2023 found that higher levels of physical fitness were associated with decreased risk for atrial fibrillation, stroke, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).
- Further research could replicate these findings and look into specific physical fitness parameters that may be the most useful.
Heart health is critical for the body’s well-being. An essential area of research is determining factors that put people at risk for heart problems and what factors are preventive. Research in this area is ongoing.
A recent study found that participants with better exercise performance were at a lower risk for developing abnormal heart rhythm, or AFib, and at a lower risk for serious cardiovascular events.
The findings were presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2023.
The study was a retrospective, single-center study. Researchers included adults who had no previous diagnosis of AFib. However, all participants had clinical reasons for undergoing exercise treadmill testing.
Researchers analyzed participants’ fitness levels by quantifying how hard they could exercise during a treadmill test, using a measure known as metabolic equivalents (METs). A higher METs score generally indicates a higher level of physical fitness and better physical performance abilities.
Participants who were able to exercise at the highest intensity and achieved the highest MET measures during treadmill testing had an 8% lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation, a 12% decreased risk for ischemic stroke, and a 14% decreased risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).
About 15,450 participants took part in the study, and researchers followed up on them for just under eleven and a half years. Throughout the study, the researchers recorded 515 new cases of AFib. They accounted for several multi variables in their analysis, including…
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