Short-term exercise training in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation: effects on exercise capacity, AV conduction, and quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
A randomized study was conducted to determine whether short-term exercise training in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) might improve exercise capacity and quality of life (QOL), and influence atrioventricular conduction.


METHODS
Atrial fibrillation patients (age 64 +/- 7 years) were randomized to exercise training (n = 15) or a 2-month control period (n = 15) followed by the training program. Twenty-four training sessions consisted of aerobic exercise and muscle strengthening. A cycle ergometer test and a 15-minute resting high-frequency spectral electrocardiogram analysis were performed and a QOL questionnaire (SF-36) was completed before and after training. Because there were no changes after 2 months in the control group, pooled data for all patients are presented before and after training.


RESULTS
Cumulated work at Borg scale 17 increased by 41% +/- 36%. Heart rate at rest and after 10 minutes of exercise decreased from 75 +/- 14 to 68 +/- 14 bpm and 145 +/- 19 to 137 +/- 21 bpm, respectively. HF increased from 81 +/- 17 to 91 +/- 22 milliseconds. Four of the 8 scales and 1 of the 2 summary scales of the Short-Form-36 improved. P <.05 for all results.


CONCLUSIONS
Exercise capacity, heart rate variability, and QOL improved after 2 months of exercise training in patients with chronic AF. Heart rates at rest and during exercise decreased.
Hegbom
Finn
F
Heart & Lung Center, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. finn.hegbom@medisin.uio.no
Sire
Svein
S
Heldal
Magnus
M
Orning
Otto M
OM
Stavem
Knut
K
Gjesdal
Knut
K
D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome