Effects of exercise training on exercise capacity, cardiac function, BMI, and quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials

The impact of lifestyle factors on atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF), with its significant associated morbidity and mortality contributes to significant healthcare utilisation and expenditure. Given its progressively rising incidence, strategies to limit AF development and progression are urgently needed. Lifestyle modification is a potentially potent but underutilised weapon against the AF epidemic. The purpose of this article is to review the role of lifestyle factors as risk factors for AF, outline potential mechanisms of pathogenesis and examine the available evidence for lifestyle intervention in primary and secondary AF prevention. It will also highlight the need for investment by physicians, researchers, health services and governments in order to facilitate delivery of the comprehensive, multidisciplinary AF care that is required to manage this complex and multifactorial disease.

Atrial fibrillation: comorbidities, lifestyle, and patient factors

Modern anticoagulation therapy has dramatically reduced the risk of stroke and systemic thromboembolism in people with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, AF still impairs quality of life, increases the risk of stroke and heart failure, and is linked to cognitive impairment. There is also a recognition of the residual risk of thromboembolic complications despite anticoagulation. Hence, AF management is evolving towards a more comprehensive understanding of risk factors predisposing to the development of this arrhythmia, its' complications and interventions to mitigate the risk. This review summarises the recent advances in understanding of risk factors for incident AF and managing these risk factors. It includes a discussion of lifestyle, somatic, psychological, and socioeconomic risk factors. The available data call for a practice shift towards a more individualised approach considering an increasingly broader range of health and patient factors contributing to AF-related health burden. The review highlights the needs of people living with co-morbidities (especially with multimorbidity), polypharmacy and the role of the changing population demographics affecting the European region and globally.

Lifestyle changes in atrial fibrillation management and intervention

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common arrhythmias in adults, and its continued rise in the United States is complicated by the increased incidence and prevalence of several AF risk factors, such as obesity, physical inactivity, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine use. Lifestyle and risk factor modification has been proposed as an additional pillar of AF therapy, added to rhythm control, rate control, and anticoagulation, to reduce AF burden and risk. Although emerging evidence largely supports the integration of lifestyle and risk factor management in clinical practice, randomized clinical trials investigating the long-term sustainability and reproducibility of these benefits remain sparse. The purpose of this review is to discuss potentially reversible risk factors on AF, share evidence for the impact on AF by modification of these risk factors, and then provide an overview of the effects of reversing or managing these risk factors on the success of various AF management strategies, such as antithrombotic, rate control, and rhythm control therapies.

[Rehabilitation for atrial fibrillation : Impact on arrhythmia and cumulative risk factors]

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs in cardiovascular diseases but also in hyperthyroidism. The independent risk factors (RF) that are cumulatively the cause of AF include arterial hypertension, obesity, malnutrition, alcohol and tobacco consumption, lack of exercise, diabetes mellitus, and sleep-related breathing disorders. These cause and reinforce each other and are amplified by psychosocial RF. This also leads to morphological consequences such as atrial cardiomyopathy or diastolic heart failure (HFpEF). Therapy focuses on stroke prophylaxis through anticoagulation and rhythm or frequency control of the AF.

AIM

The risk factors of AF are presented here in detail. RF control must be included in the management of AF. Effective risk management should definitely include the patient's lifestyle.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Although RF management can be integrated into the acute medical and outpatient treatment of AF, there is little scope to deal with the individual risk profile of individual patients. With the bio-psycho-social treatment approach, cardiological rehabilitation offers the opportunity to establish individual, lifestyle-oriented risk management and to achieve symptomatic improvement, decreased AF burden, better performance, and a better quality of life through correctly dosed training. Further studies to clarify the question of whether clinical endpoints such as hospitalization or morbidity and mortality are reduced by cardiac rehabilitation in AF are desirable.

Effects of different exercise types on quality of life for patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To investigate the effectiveness of exercise and the most effective types of exercise for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and exercise capacity, and reduce AF burden, AF recurrence and adverse events.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Systematic search in PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, and SPORTDiscus for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized pre-post intervention studies investigating the effect of different types of exercise on AF patients. After exclusion, 12 studies (11 RCTs, 1 prepost) with a total of 670 participants were included. Exercise interventions consisted of aerobic exercise, aerobic interval training (AIT), Qigong, yoga, and exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR). There were significant positive effects of exercise on general health {mean difference [MD] = 6.42 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.90, 9.93]; P = 0.0003; I2 = 17%} and vitality [MD = 6.18 (95% CI: 1.94, 10.41); P = 0.004; I2 = 19%)] sub-scales of the Short Form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36). Qigong resulted in a significant improvement in the 6-min walk test [MD = 105.00m (95% CI: 19.53, 190.47)]. Exercise-based CR and AIT were associated with a significant increment in V̇O2peak, and AIT significantly reduced AF burden. Adverse events were few and one intervention-related serious adverse event was reported for exercise-based CR.

CONCLUSION

Exercise led to improvements in HRQoL, exercise capacity, and reduced AF burden. The available exercise interventions for AF patients are few and heterogeneous. Future studies are needed for all types of exercise intervention in this patient group to (co-)develop an optimized exercise training intervention for AF patients.

Effects of 3 months of detraining following cardiac rehabilitation in patients with atrial fibrillation

Background

Atrial fibrillation negatively impacts physical fitness and health-related quality of life. We recently showed that 3 months of physiotherapist-led exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation improves physical fitness and muscle function in elderly patients with permanent atrial fibrillation and concomitant diseases. Little is, however, known about the consequences for physical fitness, physical activity level, and health-related quality of life after ending the rehabilitation period.

Methods

Prospective 3 months follow-up study of 38 patients out of 40 eligible (10 women) who, as part of a randomized controlled trial, had completed a 3 months physiotherapist-led cardiac rehabilitation resulting in improved physical fitness,. In the current study, the participants were instructed to refrain from exercise for 3 months after completion of the rehabilitation period. Primary outcome measure was physical fitness measured as highest achieved workload using an exercise tolerance test. Secondary outcome measures were muscle function (muscle endurance tests), physical activity level (questionnaire and accelerometer), and health-related quality of life, (Short Form-36), as in the preceding intervention study. We used the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test to analyse differences between the end of rehabilitation and at follow-up. The effect size was determined using Cohen’s d .

Results

Exercise capacity and exercise time significantly decresead between end of rehabilitation and at follow-up (p < .0001 for both). A significant reduction in shoulder flexion repetitions (p = .006) was observed as well as reduced health-related quality of life in the Short Form-36 dimensions Physical Function (p = .042), Mental Health (p = .030), and Mental Component Score (p = .035). There were, however, no changes regarding objective and subjective physical activity measurements.

Conclusion

In older patients with permanent atrial fibrillation, previously achieved improvements from physiotherapist-led exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in physical fitness and muscle function were lost, and health-related quality of life was impaired after ending the rehabilitation period. A strategy for conserving improvements after a rehabilitation period is essential.

Effects of Supervised Exercise Training on Atrial Fibrillation: A META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS

PURPOSE

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with the comorbidities of a sedentary lifestyle. Endurance athletes also show an increased incidence of AF. The role of exercise in the treatment of AF is unknown so this study aimed to examine the effects of supervised exercise on AF.

METHODS

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining supervised exercise training in participants with AF was performed. The primary outcome was AF recurrence and burden. Secondary outcomes included AF symptoms, quality of life, and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).

RESULTS

Thirteen RCTs, involving 1155 participants, were included. Paroxysmal AF was present in 34% and persistent AF in 64%. The types of exercise were diverse and included cardiac rehabilitation (64%), aerobic training (7%), Qi Gong (4%), interval training (11%), and yoga (15%). Exercise training reduced AF recurrence (relative risk = 0.77: 95% CI, 0.60-0.99), improved quality of life in 5 of the 10 components of the Short Form 36 survey, and improved CRF (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.56: 95% CI, 0.27-0.85). The AF burden was reduced only in studies that included continuous ambulatory monitoring (SMD =-0.49: 95% CI, -0.96 to -0.01) but not when all studies were included (SMD =-0.12: 95% CI, -0.61 to 0.38). There was no difference in adverse events between exercise and control.

CONCLUSIONS

Supervised exercise training is safe, reduces AF recurrence, and improves quality of life and CRF in participants with AF. Further large RCTs with ambulatory monitoring and robust exercise regimens are needed to assess the effects of exercise training on AF burden and AF symptoms.

Efficacy of exercise in patients with atrial fibrillation: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The benefits of exercise in atrial fibrillation (AF) are not clear yet. The aim was to assess the effects of exercise on functional capacity, quality of life, symptoms and adverse events in AF patients.

METHODS

Pubmed, Web of Science, Science Direct and CENTRAL databases were searched to collect the literature concerning AF and exercise. Studies using an endurance and/or strength exercise of at least one-month duration were included. The meta-analysis was conducted using the random-effects method.

RESULTS

10 randomised controlled trials were selected. The analysis reported a significant improvement in the maximum exercise capacity (SMCR=0.35; CI95%=0.18, 0.51; p<.001) after exercise intervention. In patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF, exercise improved significantly VO_2peak (SMCR=0.387; CI95%=0.214, 0.561; p<.001). Moreover, patients with permanent AF showed significant results in the 6-min walk test (SMCR=0.74; CI95%=0.31, 1.17; p<.001) and the resting heart rate (SMCR=-0.51; CI95%=-0.93, -0.10; p=.0015) thanks to exercise. Regarding quality of life, there was an improvement trend in the physical component score (SMCR=0.13; CI95%=-0.05, 0.31; p=.17) and mental component score (SMCR=0.09; CI95%=-0.09, 0.27; p=.35) in the exercise group. Nevertheless, pharmacological treatment tended to control the systolic blood pressure (SMCR=0.13; CI95%=-0.03, 0.3; p=.11).

CONCLUSION

Exercise has a beneficial role as an adjuvant treatment of AF.

Implementing the physical activity vital sign in an academic preventive cardiology clinic

The aims were to implement physical activity (PA) screening as part of the electronic kiosk check-in process in an adult preventive cardiology clinic and assess factors related to patients' self-reported PA. The 3-question physical activity vital sign (PAVS) was embedded in the Epic electronic medical record and included how many days, minutes and intensity (light, moderate, vigorous) of PA patients conducted on average. This is a data analysis of PAVS data over a 60-day period. We conducted multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with not meeting current PA recommendations. Over 60 days, a total of 1322 patients checked into the clinic using the kiosk and 72% (n = 951) completed the PAVS at the kiosk. The majority of those patients were male (58%) and White (71%) with a mean age of 64 ± 15 years. Of the 951 patients completing the PAVS, 10% reported no PA, 55% reported some PA, and 35% reported achieving at least 150 min moderate or 75 min vigorous PA/week. In the logistic model, females (AOR = 1.4, 95%CI: 1.002-1.8, p = .049) vs. males, being Black (AOR = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.04-3.7, p = .038) or 'Other' race (AOR = 1.5, 95%CI: 1.02-2.3, p = .035) vs. White, unknown or other types of relationships (AOR = 0.0.26, 95%CI: 0.10-0.68, p = .006) vs. being married/partnered, and those who were retired (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.4-2.8, p < .001) or unemployed (AOR = 2.2, 95%CI: 1.3-3.7, p = .002) vs. full-time workers were associated with not achieving recommended levels of PA. The PAVS is a feasible electronic tool for quickly assessing PA and may prompt providers to counsel on this CVD risk factor.

Effects of two different types of single exercise modes on salivary C-reactive protein concentration, oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in post-myocardial infarction patients

Objectives

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of two different types of single cardiac rehabilitation (CR) exercise modes on the inflammation status, oxidative stress and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of saliva.

Methods

The study involved two groups of CR patients: group A (n = 21) used a cycloergometer, and group B (n = 21) received breathing and balance exercises. C-reactive protein as an inflammatory biomarker, malondialdehyde (MDA) as a measure of the level of oxidative stress and salivary 2.2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) as an index of TAC were performed twice: before the beginning of the CR exercise (pre-CR) and immediately after (post-CR).

Results

No significant changes were observed for the inflammatory response of saliva after CR exercise regardless of its type. MDA decreased (pre-CR: 39.7 ± 101.9 vs. post-CR: 16.8 ± 44.3 ng·mL⁻¹; p < 0.01) and DPPH increased (pre-CR: 25.9 ± 16.7 vs. post-CR: 32.6 ± 14.0% reduction; p < 0.05) after CR exercise in the group B, with similar but not statistically significant changes in the group A.

Discussion

Two popular exercise modes, especially breathing and balance exercises, reduce salivary oxidative stress and enhance the antioxidant potential of saliva in CR patients. The approval of saliva as a non-invasive source of information about inflammation status, oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in cardiac patients requires further studies.

Atrial Fibrillation (Part 1): Pathophysiology, Risk Factors, and Therapeutic Basis

A fibrilação atrial é a arritmia sustentada mais comum na prática clínica com predileção pelas faixas etárias mais avançadas. Com o envelhecimento populacional, as projeções para as próximas décadas são alarmantes. Além de sua importância epidemiológica, a fibrilação atrial é destacada por suas repercussões clínicas, incluindo fenômenos tromboembólicos, hospitalizações e maior taxa de mortalidade. Seu mecanismo fisiopatológico é complexo, envolvendo uma associação de fatores hemodinâmicos, estruturais, eletrofisiológicos e autonômicos. Desde os anos 1990, o estudo Framingham em análises multivariadas já demonstrou que, além da idade, a presença de hipertensão, diabetes, insuficiência cardíaca e doença valvar é preditor independente dessa normalidade do ritmo. Entretanto, recentemente, vários outros fatores de risco estão sendo implicados no aumento do número de casos de fibrilação atrial, tais como sedentarismo, obesidade, anormalidades do sono, tabagismo e uso excessivo de álcool. Além disso, as mudanças na qualidade de vida apontam para uma redução na recorrência de fibrilação atrial, tornando-se uma nova estratégia para o tratamento de excelência dessa arritmia cardíaca. A abordagem terapêutica envolve um amplo conhecimento do estado de saúde e hábitos do paciente, e compreende quatro pilares principais: mudança de hábitos de vida e tratamento rigoroso de fatores de risco; prevenção de eventos tromboembólicos; controle da frequência; e controle do ritmo. Pela dimensão de fatores envolvidos no cuidado ao paciente portador de fibrilação atrial, ações integradas com equipes multiprofissionais estão associadas aos melhores resultados clínicos.

Efficacy of Physical Exercise on the Quality of Life, Exercise Ability, and Cardiopulmonary Fitness of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: Physical exercise is recommended to help prevent lifestyle diseases. The present study was designed to quantify the efficacy of physical exercise on the quality of life (QoL), exercise ability and cardiopulmonary fitness of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Method: A comprehensive systematic literature search was performed in Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and PubMed databases (from 1970 to December 1st, 2019) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing physical exercise combined with AF routine treatments to routine treatments alone. The meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Our main outcomes were QoL (measured by the Short-Form 36 scale, SF-36), exercise ability (measured by the 6-min walk test, 6MWT) and cardiopulmonary fitness (measured by peak oxygen uptake and resting heart rate). Quality assessments were conducted using the Cochrane Collaboration tool.

Results: Twelve trials involving 819 patients met the criteria for analysis. The results showed that physical exercise improved the QoL by enhancing physical functioning [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.63, 95%CI: 0.18–1.09; p = 0.006], general health perceptions (SMD = 0.64, 95%CI: 0.35–0.93; p < 0.001) and vitality (SMD = 0.51, 95%CI: 0.31–0.71; p < 0.001); increased exercise ability by improving the 6MWT performance (SMD = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.19–1.119; p = 0.007); and enhanced peak VO₂ (SMD = 0.37, 95%CI: 0.16–0.57; p < 0.001) while reducing resting heart rate (SMD = −0.39, 95%CI: −0.65 to −0.13; p = 0.004). In addition, meta-regression analysis showed that training mode (p_{physicalfunctioning} = 0.012, p_{generalhealthperceptions} = 0.035) and training duration (p = 0.047) were the main factors of an intervention that influenced the effect size. Following sub-group analysis, we found that aerobics, Yoga and longer training durations (≥60 min) showed larger improvements.

Conclusion: In summary, our meta-analysis shows that physical exercise has a positive effect on the QoL, exercise ability and cardiopulmonary fitness in AF patients. When physicians offer exercise recommendations to AF patients, they should consider both the training mode and training duration to achieve maximum results.

Lifestyle and Risk Factor Modification for Reduction of Atrial Fibrillation: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, is associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and healthcare use. Great strides have been made in stroke prevention and rhythm control strategies, yet reducing the incidence of AF has been slowed by the increasing incidence and prevalence of AF risk factors, including obesity, physical inactivity, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and other modifiable lifestyle-related factors. Fortunately, many of these AF drivers are potentially reversible, and emerging evidence supports that addressing these modifiable risks may be effective for primary and secondary AF prevention. A structured, protocol-driven multidisciplinary approach to integrate lifestyle and risk factor management as an integral part of AF management may help in the prevention and treatment of AF. However, this aspect of AF management is currently underrecognized, underused, and understudied. The purpose of this American Heart Association scientific statement is to review the association of modifiable risk factors with AF and the effects of risk factor intervention. Implementation strategies, care pathways, and educational links for achieving impactful weight reduction, increased physical activity, and risk factor modification are included. Implications for clinical practice, gaps in knowledge, and future directions for the research community are highlighted.

The Role of Physical Activity in the Association Between Smoking Status and Quality of Life

OBJECTIVES

Nonsmoking status and physical activity have, individually, been shown to be associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The objective of this study was to assess whether the relationship between smoking status and HRQoL is modified or influenced by physical activity.

METHODS

Data were extracted from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey dataset (N = 332680) in 2015. Logistic regression models were used to address study objectives. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL), measured using eight domains (general health, physical health, mental health, activity limitations, pain, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and vitality), was regressed on smoking status without and with adjustment for age, race, gender, education, marital status, income, employment, healthcare coverage, comorbidity, body mass index, flu vaccination, alcohol use, and physical activity. Smoking status by physical activity interaction term was added to the adjusted model and evaluated for significance.

RESULTS

There were significant smoking status by physical activity interaction effects on general health, physical health, activity limitations, and depressive symptoms domains. Among those who exercised, relative differences in the odds of a high HRQoL was smaller between former smokers and nonsmokers and larger between current smokers and nonsmokers when compared to those who did not exercise. Similarly, there were sharper relative differences between those who exercised and those who did not exercise among former smokers than among current smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

Smokers who successfully quit smoking (former smokers) may benefit from enhanced HRQoL that tends towards that of nonsmokers if they adopt physical activity in their daily routine.

IMPLICATIONS

Behavioral interventions that combine smoking cessation and physical activity may be more effective than either smoking cessation or physical activity alone in improving the quality of life measures such as overall, physical and mental health, and degree of limitation to activities due to poor health. Health care providers can support patients who successfully quit smoking to add exercise to their daily routine with the expectation of enhanced HRQoL.

Effect of exercise training on subjective parameters in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has many effects on subjective parameters of the disease, such as reduction in quality of life (QoL), sleep quality (SQ), and increases in daytime sleepiness. Studies have reported the beneficial effect of exercise training on OSA severity; however, whether it improves subjective parameters remains unclear. The purpose of the present review was to investigate the effect of exercise training on QoL, daytime sleepiness, and SQ in adults with OSA by summarizing the results of clinical trials. The study adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO. A systematic review of the PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane (CENTRAL) databases was conducted. Risk of bias analysis was performed using the Cochrane tool, and Review Manager version 5.2 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria) was used to perform the meta-analysis. Of the 1573 studies initially retrieved, 8 relevant studies with 228 participants were included in the analysis. The studies presented moderate risk of bias. Exercise training significantly improved QoL (mean difference, 12.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 6.4 to 19.5]) and SQ (mean difference, -2.0 [95% CI -3.6 to -0.5]), and reduced daytime sleepiness (mean difference, -3.7 [95% CI -6.1 to -1.2]), and OSA severity (mean difference, -11.4 [95% CI -13.4 to -9.4 events/h]). Thus, physical exercise training was effective in improving subjective parameters and reducing the severity of OSA. Additional randomized clinical trials, however, should be performed to confirm these findings.

The effect of cardiac rehabilitation at 4 weeks postoperatively on quality of life in patients treated with totally thoracoscopic ablation

There is a lack of evidence on the effect of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (EBCR) in patients treated with total thoracoscopic ablation (TTA) for atrial fibrillation (AF). Our study investigated the efficacy and safety of postoperative exercise intervention in patients recovering from TTA. Twenty-four patients participated in the study, and were divided into the two groups, exercise group (EG) (n=12) and control group (n= 12). Patients in EG performed the exercise intervention including the aerobic and resistance exercise program twice a week for 8 weeks, which was used as a hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation for the out-patient. A cardiopulmonary exercise test was administered to evaluate aerobic exercise capacity, and qualitative aspect of patient’s life was assessed using the Short Form 36 questionnaires to compare pre and postoperative wellness of patient’s life. Although there was an increase of VO_2peak (peak oxygen uptake) after exercise intervention, no significant improvement was found (P=0.055). Two of 4 physical health scores (role-physical, P=0.013 and general health, P=0.05) and three of four mental health scores (vitality, P=0.027, social function, P=0.016, and mental health, P=0.003) were significantly improved after 8 weeks of EBCR. Each summarized scale in the physical (P=0.022) and mental (P= 0.004) survey section was also significantly improved in postoperative assessment compared to the preoperative one. In this context, we concluded that EBCR initiated at the time point of 4th week after TTA operation can guarantee the secure postoperative physical activity, and the 8 weeks of EBCR can effectively improve the quality of life in AF Patients.

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for patients with catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Aims

The efficacy and safety of cardiac rehabilitation for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation who restored sinus rhythm after catheter ablation remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of cardiac rehabilitation on exercise capacity, inflammatory status, cardiac function, and safety in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation who had catheter ablation.

Methods

In this randomized controlled study, 61 patients treated with catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation (male, 80%; mean age, 66 ± 9 years) were analyzed. Thirty patients underwent cardiac rehabilitation (rehabilitation group), whereas the remaining 31 patients received usual care (usual care group). The rehabilitation group underwent endurance and resistance training with moderate intensity, at least three times per week for six months. Six-minute walk distance, muscle strength, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, plasma pentraxin 3, left ventricular ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation recurrence were assessed at baseline and at six-month follow-up.

Results

In the rehabilitation group, significant increases in the six-minute walk distance, handgrip strength, leg strength and left ventricular ejection fraction and significant decreases in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and plasma pentraxin 3 concentrations were observed at six-month follow-up compared with baseline (all p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the usual care group. During the six-month follow-up period, the number of patients with atrial fibrillation recurrence was six (21.4%) in the rehabilitation group and eight (25.8%) in the usual care group (risk ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.33 to 2.10).

Conclusions

Cardiac rehabilitation improved exercise capacity without increasing the risk for atrial fibrillation recurrence. It may also be effective in managing systemic inflammatory status and systolic left ventricular function in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation treated with catheter ablation.

The Influence of an Eight-Week Cycloergometer-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation on Serum Antioxidant Status in Men with Coronary Heart Disease: A Prospective Study

Background and objectives: A body of evidence confirms the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients, but it remains unclear whether it enhances the antioxidant potential. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of an eight-week aerobic cycloergometer-based CR program on serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and other CHD risk factors. Materials and Methods: The study involved 36 men with CHD (55.2 ± 9.0 years). TAC was assessed with two methods: ferric reducing ability of serum (TAC-FRAS) and 2.2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (TAC-DPPH). Aerobic capacity was evaluated during a submaximal exercise test. TAC and other anthropometric, biochemical and physical activity/fitness measures were performed twice: before the beginning and after termination of CR. Results: Aerobic capacity was higher (7.0 ± 2.6 vs. 8.0 ± 2.5 MET—metabolic equivalents; p < 0.01), but values of resting diastolic blood pressure were lower (81.9 ± 7.6 vs. 77.4 ± 8.9 mmHg; p < 0.01) after termination of CR. Other classic cardiometabolic, anthropometric, and biochemical measures did not change with CR. No difference in TAC-FRAS was found after CR, whereas TAC-DPPH was significantly lower (16.4 ± 4.0 vs. 13.2 ± 3.7% reduction; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Antioxidant potential measured as TAC-DPPH, but not as TAC-FRAS, decreased with the CR program. The recognized health benefits of CR are not related to augmented serum antioxidant status.

High-intensity interval training increase GATA4, CITED4 and c-Kit and decreases C/EBPβ in rats after myocardial infarction

AIM

Myocardial infarction (MI), an important cause of morbidity and mortality, can be followed by left ventricular dysfunction and cardiomyocyte loss. Cardiac repair mechanisms may subsequently improve left ventricular function. Exercise training has been suggested to have cardioprotective effects against MI damage, but detailed knowledge is lacking on the effects of different types and intensities of exercise training on molecular targets of cardiomyocyte regeneration.

MAIN METHODS

MI was induced in male Wistar rats by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. After MI induction, the rats were randomly assigned to one of five groups: sham operated, and experimental MI followed by no exercise, or low, moderate or high intensity exercise Cardiac function and infarct size were assessed by echocardiography and Evans blue/TTC staining, respectively. The expression of mRNA markers and proteins associated with myocardial regeneration was measured with RT-PCR and western blotting.

KEY FINDINGS

Exercise training at different intensities improved cardiac function and levels of stem cell and cardiomyocyte markers, and reduced infarct size. mRNA levels of GATA4, Nkx2.5 and c-Kit and protein expression of Nkx2.5 and c-Kit were significantly increased in all MI-exercise groups. The high-intensity exercise group had greater increases than the low and moderate intensity exercise groups. In the high-intensity exercise group, Sca-1 and CITED4 increased more than in the low-intensity exercise group. C/EBPβ mRNA and protein levels decreased after exercise training, with greater reductions in the high-intensity exercise group than the low- or moderate-intensity groups.

SIGNIFICANCE

The findings suggest that by targeting cardiogenesis, high-intensity training can exert cardioprotective effects against cardiac dysfunction in an experimental model of MI.