Association between physical activity and risk of incident arrhythmias in 402 406 individuals: evidence from the UK Biobank cohort

dc.contributor.authorElliott, A.D.
dc.contributor.authorLinz, D.
dc.contributor.authorMishima, R.
dc.contributor.authorKadhim, K.
dc.contributor.authorGallagher, C.
dc.contributor.authorMiddeldorp, M.E.
dc.contributor.authorVerdicchio, C.V.
dc.contributor.authorHendriks, J.M.L.
dc.contributor.authorLau, D.H.
dc.contributor.authorLa Gerche, A.
dc.contributor.authorSanders, P.
dc.date.issued2020
dc.description.abstractAIMS: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.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityAdrian D Elliott, Dominik Linz, Ricardo Mishima, Kadhim Kadhim, Celine Gallagher, Melissa E Middeldorp ... et al.
dc.identifier.citationEuropean Heart Journal, 2020; 41(15):1479-1486
dc.identifier.doi10.1093/eurheartj/ehz897
dc.identifier.issn0195-668X
dc.identifier.issn1522-9645
dc.identifier.orcidElliott, A.D. [0000-0002-5951-4239]
dc.identifier.orcidLinz, D. [0000-0003-4893-0824]
dc.identifier.orcidMishima, R. [0000-0001-5163-7130]
dc.identifier.orcidKadhim, K. [0000-0002-8928-0402]
dc.identifier.orcidGallagher, C. [0000-0002-5114-400X]
dc.identifier.orcidMiddeldorp, M.E. [0000-0002-4106-9771]
dc.identifier.orcidVerdicchio, C.V. [0000-0002-9232-0997]
dc.identifier.orcidHendriks, J.M.L. [0000-0003-4326-9256]
dc.identifier.orcidLau, D.H. [0000-0001-7753-1318] [0000-0002-1564-439X]
dc.identifier.orcidSanders, P. [0000-0003-3803-8429]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/125023
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherOxford University Press
dc.rightsPublished on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2020. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com. This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model)
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehz897
dc.subjectAtrial fibrillation
dc.subjectBradyarrhythmias
dc.subjectExercise
dc.subjectPhysical activity
dc.subjectVentricular arrhythmias
dc.titleAssociation between physical activity and risk of incident arrhythmias in 402 406 individuals: evidence from the UK Biobank cohort
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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