title: Aerobic Interval Training Reduces the Burden of Atrial Fibrillation in the Short Term: A Randomized Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exercise training is an effective treatment for important atrial fibrillation (AF) comorbidities. However, a high level of endurance exercise is associated with an increased AF prevalence. We assessed the effects of aerobic interval training (AIT) on time in AF, AF symptoms, cardiovascular health, and quality of life in AF patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-one patients with nonpermanent AF were randomized to AIT (n=26) consisting of four 4-minute intervals at 85% to 95% of peak heart rate 3 times a week for 12 weeks or to a control group (n=25) continuing their regular exercise habits. An implanted loop recorder measured time in AF continuously from 4 weeks before to 4 weeks after the intervention period. Cardiac function, peak oxygen uptake (o2peak), lipid status, quality of life, and AF symptoms were evaluated before and after the 12-week intervention period. Mean time in AF increased from 10.4% to 14.6% in the control group and was reduced from 8.1% to 4.8% in the exercise group (P=0.001 between groups). AF symptom frequency (P=0.006) and AF symptom severity (P=0.009) were reduced after AIT. AIT improved o2peak, left atrial and ventricular ejection fraction, quality-of-life measures of general health and vitality, and lipid values compared with the control group. There was a trend toward fewer cardioversions and hospital admissions after AIT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AIT for 12 weeks reduces the time in AF in patients with nonpermanent AF. This is followed by a significant improvement in AF symptoms, o2peak, left atrial and ventricular function, lipid levels, and QoL.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01325675.
authors.affiliation: From the K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine (V.M., B.M.N., A.-E.T., U.W., J.P.L.), Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging (B.H.A., A.S., O.R.), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; and Department of Cardiology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway (V.M., B.H.A., A.S., O.R., J.P.L.) vegard.malmo@ntnu.no.
authors.forename: Vegard
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Malmo
authors.affiliation: From the K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine (V.M., B.M.N., A.-E.T., U.W., J.P.L.), Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging (B.H.A., A.S., O.R.), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; and Department of Cardiology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway (V.M., B.H.A., A.S., O.R., J.P.L.).
authors.forename: Bjarne M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Nes
authors.affiliation: From the K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine (V.M., B.M.N., A.-E.T., U.W., J.P.L.), Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging (B.H.A., A.S., O.R.), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; and Department of Cardiology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway (V.M., B.H.A., A.S., O.R., J.P.L.).
authors.forename: Brage H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Amundsen
authors.affiliation: From the K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine (V.M., B.M.N., A.-E.T., U.W., J.P.L.), Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging (B.H.A., A.S., O.R.), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; and Department of Cardiology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway (V.M., B.H.A., A.S., O.R., J.P.L.).
authors.forename: Arnt-Erik
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Tjonna
authors.affiliation: From the K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine (V.M., B.M.N., A.-E.T., U.W., J.P.L.), Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging (B.H.A., A.S., O.R.), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; and Department of Cardiology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway (V.M., B.H.A., A.S., O.R., J.P.L.).
authors.forename: Asbjorn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stoylen
authors.affiliation: From the K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine (V.M., B.M.N., A.-E.T., U.W., J.P.L.), Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging (B.H.A., A.S., O.R.), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; and Department of Cardiology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway (V.M., B.H.A., A.S., O.R., J.P.L.).
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rossvoll
authors.affiliation: From the K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine (V.M., B.M.N., A.-E.T., U.W., J.P.L.), Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging (B.H.A., A.S., O.R.), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; and Department of Cardiology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway (V.M., B.H.A., A.S., O.R., J.P.L.).
authors.forename: Ulrik
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wisloff
authors.affiliation: From the K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine (V.M., B.M.N., A.-E.T., U.W., J.P.L.), Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging (B.H.A., A.S., O.R.), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; and Department of Cardiology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway (V.M., B.H.A., A.S., O.R., J.P.L.).
authors.forename: Jan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Loennechen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: arrhythmias, cardiac; atrial fibrillation; cardiac imaging; exercise techniques; research