High-intensity Interval Training in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

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.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinically significant arrhythmia, affecting more than 33 million individuals worldwide. AF leads to structural and electrical remodeling in both the atria and ventricles and is strongly related to an increased risk of stroke, heart failure and death. The CARDIO-FIT study demonstrated that AF patients with a higher baseline aerobic fitness were almost 3 times more likely to maintain arrhythmia freedom after a 4-year follow-up; also, AF patients who gained more than 2 metabolic equivalents (METs, aerobic fitness) were more than two-fold more likely to maintain sinus rhythm.

High-intensity exercise training and atrial fibrillation. Each METs gained was associated with a 9% decline in the risk of arrhythmia recurrence. From studies performed in patients with cardiovascular disease, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) seems to bring at least similar or greater improvements in aerobic fitness compared to a moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). Moreover, in patients with AF, time in AF was reduced of -3.3±7.2% after 12 weeks of HIIT compared to an increased time in AF of 4.2±11.8% in a control group without exercise. Whilst this highlights the potency of HIIT, no previous study has directly compared the effects of HIIT vs. MICT in AF patients on AF burden.

Cardiovascular physiological mechanism(s). Patients with AF exhibit cardiac and vascular dysfunction. However, exercise training improves cardiac and vascular function in human, but the effects are unknown in AF patients. This knowledge is important to improve management of patients with AF with an optimal training prescription. Research on long-term effects and safety related to high-intensity exercise in AF patients is therefore warranted. The findings of the optimal training prescription will help us to update and improve the current guidelines.

Building on the latest scientific insights, the overall aim of this proposal is to determine the optimal intensity for reducing the AF burden. Moreover, the understanding of the underlying mechanisms could help us to determine the cardiovascular adaptations related to exercise training (HIIT or MICT).

Taken together, this study will answer these two questions:

1. What is the best exercise intensity for reducing the time in AF?
2. What are the underlying cardiovascular mechanisms associated with any training related decrease in AF burden? Objectives. Objective 1. High-intensity interval training and AF: The investigators will compare the effects of HIIT and MICT on the burden of AF to test the hypothesis that HIIT decreases the time in AF to a greater extent than MICT.

Objective 2. Cardiovascular physiological mechanisms: The investigators will assess cardiovascular function in all AF patients before and after the training intervention, to test the hypothesis that HIIT is associated with greater cardiovascular adaptation compared to MICT.

Methods. Experimental design: The investigators will perform a 3-arm randomised controlled trial to answer the first research question. The investigators will compare regular care (control group) with regular care + HIIT and regular care + MICT in a total of 60 stable outpatients with non-permanent AF in need for rhythm control (catheter ablation or cardioversion) on the pre-procedure burden of AF, and post-procedure recurrence. When participants are listed on the waiting list for the ablation procedure, they will be assigned to control or HIIT or MICT in a randomized order. The waiting list is approximately 3 months, so patients would have the exercise program for at least 3 months prior to the rhythm control procedure, and continue for 3 months post-procedure to assess AF recurrence. To answer the second research question, the investigators will perform cardiac and vascular functions measurements at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months training intervention in all patients.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Presence of non-permanent AF
* \> 18 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

* Performing endurance training at high intensity \>2 times/week or at moderate intensity \>3 times/week;
* Previous cardiac surgery not related to AF;
* LVEF \<45%;
* Severe coronary artery disease non-suitable for revascularization;
* Significant cardiac valve disease;
* Implanted cardiac pacemaker;
* And restriction to cardiopulmonary exercise testing or severe intolerance to exercise.