High-intensity Interval Training in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Summary

A key characteristic of the heart is its regular rhythm. When the heart is exposed to irregular electric impulses, such as with atrial fibrillation (AF), detrimental effects can occur affecting the ability of the heart to pump blood. AF affects more than 33 million individuals worldwide, and places individuals at increased risk for stroke, heart failure and death. Of note, being fit seems to protect the long-term severity of AF, and individuals with AF who improved their aerobic fitness seem to decrease their severity of atrial fibrillation. Although exercise training is known to improve aerobic fitness, there are limited data investigating the benefits of an exercise training program on the reduction of AF burden.

Once AF is present, regular exercise in these patients reduces the risk for developing cardiovascular events. Moreover, exercise training at high-intensity seems to bring greater adaptations in cardiac patients. This effect may be related to improvements in cardiovascular function and structure. No previous study has explored this possibility in patients with AF. Therefore, I will assess cardiac function and blood vessel quality before and after exercise training (at high- and moderate-intensities) in patients with AF. Better insight into how intensity of exercise training could affect the heart and the blood vessels can lead to better exercise recommendations in this population.

This project will contribute to improved clinical care for patients with AF, specifically related to the prescription of the optimal dose and type of exercise. This may result in fewer complications, improved quality of life, and lower socio-economic/healthcare costs.

Conditions

• Atrial Fibrillation

Interventions

OTHER

High-intensity interval training

Patients will cycle or walk/run four intervals of four-min at high intensity with the aim to reach 80-90% of peak oxygen consumption, 90-95% of peak heart rate, 15-17 Borg scale, shortness of breath). Each interval is separated by a three-min active recovery, at 50-60% of peak oxygen consumption or 70-75% of peak heart rate. Total exercise time will be 38 min including the warm-up and cool-down.

OTHER

Moderate-intensity continuous training

Patients will cycle or walk/run continuously at moderate intensity (50-60% of peak oxygen consumption, 70-75% of peak heart rate) for 37 min. Total exercise time will be 47 min for the Moderate-intensity continuous training group including warm-up and cool-down (isoenergetic compared to high-intensity interval training).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Liverpool

  collaborator OTHER

• Liverpool John Moores University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-08-27

Primary Completion

2023-01-27

Completion

2023-01-27

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations