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, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.
“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 occurs in the heart’s upper chamber known as the atria. According to the American Heart Association, it can lead to blood clots, stroke and other heart-related conditions. The prevalence of AFib in the U.S. was estimated at 10.55 million, equivalent to 4.48% of the adult U.S. population, according to data reported in the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics.
The American Heart Association recommends 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. In addition, adults should participate in moderate muscle-strengthening activity at least twice a week.
The study tracked more than 87,000 adults in Norway for about 15 years, capturing information about AFib, stroke and death from national health registries.
What did the analysis find? Compared to adults who were inactive, adults with a low, moderate or high level of physical activity had a 9%, 19% and 18% lower risk of stroke, respectively. Having a low, moderate or high level of physical activity was associated with an 11%, 18% and 22% lower risk of death from any cause, respectively. These benefits were similar regardless of whether a person had AFib or not, suggesting that having AFib does not change 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 those who were inactive. Previous research has suggested that people with AFib derive health benefits from regular physical activity. However, results have been somewhat inconclusive regarding the association between physical activity and stroke, Johansen said. This study suggests a positive impact of physical activity for people with AFib on both stroke risk and living longer.
“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 and other organizations, said this 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 for 87,340 participants from two large Norwegian health studies: the HUNT Study and the Tromsø Study. Participants’ average age was about 51 years at time of enrollment; about 47% were men and more than 6,500 participants had AFib. Researchers divided people into four groups based on their reported physical activity levels. The study used a multiple-records approach, meaning that if someone developed AFib during follow-up, they were reclassified to the AFib group to ensure accuracy.
Limitations include the non-randomized design and reliance on self-reported activity levels. However, Johansen said similar results would be expected if this analysis was conducted based on adults in the U.S.
Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the manuscript. Studies published in the American Heart Association’s scientific journals are peer-reviewed.
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