A recent study indicates that adding just one more hour of physical activity each week could decrease the risk of developing atrial fibrillation, the most prevalent form of irregular heartbeat, by 11%.
Conducted by researchers at NYU Langone Health, this study examined atrial fibrillation, a condition characterized by rapid and irregular beating of the heart’s upper chambers instead of a steady rhythm. If untreated, this condition can lead to serious complications like strokes and heart failure. Previous research has shown a correlation between exercise and a reduced risk of this arrhythmia, but most relied on participants’ often inaccurate self-reporting of their activity levels, according to the authors.
To overcome this limitation, the researchers utilized data from Fitbit devices to objectively assess the physical activity of over 6,000 men and women in the United States. Their findings revealed that individuals who engaged in higher amounts of weekly physical activity had a lower likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation. Interestingly, even small amounts of moderate to vigorous exercise—ranging from brisk walking to swimming—were linked to a lower risk.
Specifically, participants who managed to be active for between 2.5 and 5 hours each week, which is the minimum recommended by the American Heart Association, exhibited a 60% reduction in their chances of developing atrial fibrillation. Those who exceeded 5 hours of activity had an even greater reduction in risk, at 65%.
Preventive cardiologist Sean Heffron, MD, the study’s senior author, stated, “Our findings demonstrate that it’s not necessary to run marathons to guard against atrial fibrillation and other heart diseases. Maintaining moderate activity can, over time, lead to significant heart health benefits.” Heffron, also an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and director of cardiovascular fitness and nutrition at NYU Langone’s Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, emphasized these points.
Heffron further mentioned that the only previous study utilizing activity monitors for this purpose only tracked participants for one week, which might not accurately reflect their usual exercise routines. In contrast, this new study, considered the largest of its kind, monitored participants over a year and included only those who already owned the devices.
The findings will be shared at the annual American Heart Association meeting on November 16.
The research team analyzed data from the All of Us program, an initiative by the National Institutes of Health aimed at including underrepresented groups in medical research, such as racial minorities, women, and individuals from rural areas. Participants in the program provided extensive data, including questionnaires, blood samples, and physical measurements while being tracked over time.
From this group, the study specifically focused on 6,086 individuals who used a Fitbit and consented to link their Fitbit and electronic health records to their All of Us data. They monitored activity over a year as a baseline and followed up for another five years to identify those diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, accounting for variables like age, gender, and high blood pressure history. “These findings underscore the importance of Fitbits and similar devices in medical research,” expressed study lead author Souptik Barua, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. “These objective tools can provide valuable insights into how various activity patterns influence health over extended periods.”
Moving forward, Barua’s team intends to investigate if exercising in the morning versus the evening affects heart health differently.
Barua also pointed out that the study’s sample was primarily composed of white, college-educated women, making it less diverse compared to the broader All of Us population. The program is now providing complimentary devices to individuals in underrepresented communities for future studies.
He cautions, however, that the study’s design did not determine if exercise alone directly lowered atrial fibrillation risk or how other factors like income or education might contribute to this risk reduction. Nevertheless, the strong correlation between physical activity levels and the development of atrial fibrillation in the study group remains significant.
The study was supported by funding from NYU Langone Health.
