Even Light Activity May Lower Stroke, Death Risk in People With Atrial Fibrillation

Being physically active was linked to a lower risk of stroke and death for adults with atrial fibrillation (AFib), according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The study, which analyzed more than 87,000 adults in Norway, found that even low levels of physical activity were associated with a 9% lower risk of stroke and an 11% lower risk of death from any cause, compared to being inactive.

“In general, people with AFib appear to be less active than the general population,” said lead study author Kristoffer Johansen, Ph.D., a researcher at the School of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø. “The results from our study indicate that physical activity was associated with a reduced risk of stroke and death in individuals with and without atrial fibrillation. So, regular physical activity is important for all and could be an important preventive strategy for people with AFib.”

AFib is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, and other heart-related conditions. The American Heart Association recommends that all adults spend less time sitting and get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week, plus muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week.

The study, which tracked participants for about 15 years, found that compared to inactive adults, those with low, moderate, or high physical activity levels had a 9%, 19%, and 18% lower risk of stroke, respectively. Similarly, the risk of death from any cause was reduced by 11%, 18%, and 22% for low, moderate, and high activity levels, respectively. These benefits were consistent regardless of whether a person had AFib, suggesting that having AFib does not alter the relationship between physical activity and stroke.

For people with AFib, staying active was tied to living an average of 0.5 to 1.2 years longer compared to inactive individuals. “I hope our results will increase awareness among clinicians and people with AFib about the benefits of even low levels of physical activity,” Johansen said. “Real health benefits can happen no matter when a person starts getting active, and even a little exercise is better than nothing.”

Mina Chung, M.D., FAHA, co-chair of a 2023 joint guideline for Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation from the American Heart Association, noted that the study “adds important evidence linking physical activity with lower risks of stroke and death in people with and without AFib. It’s important to remember that physical activity may also reflect overall health. Still, the results motivate patients to be as active as they can - even lower levels of activity were associated with benefit, while moderate to high levels were linked to greater benefit.”

The study included health information from two large Norwegian health studies: the HUNT Study and the Tromsø Study. Participants’ average age was about 51 years, and more than 6,500 had AFib. Researchers categorized physical activity based on frequency, duration, and intensity. The study used a multiple-records approach, reclassifying participants who developed AFib during follow-up to the AFib group for more accurate results.

Limitations include the observational nature of the study, reliance on self-reported activity levels, and potential confounding factors. However, the authors believe similar results would be expected in U.S. adults. The findings underscore the importance of physical activity as a preventive strategy for people with AFib, a condition affecting an estimated 10.55 million adults in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics.