Daniel Carlos Garlipp et al. Raphael Boesche Guimaraes Simone Louise Savaris Clovis Froemming Junior … Oscar Dutra Tiago Luiz Luz Leiria
Abstract
Background:
The relationship between exercise and atrial fibrillation (AF) is controversial.
Objectives:
To analyze the effects of physical activity on the incidence of atrial fibrillation using systematic review and meta-analysis.
Methods:
Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that relate physical exercise and atrial fibrillation. The following databases were searched: PubMed, BVS Saúde and Cochrane. The following descriptors were used: “atrial fibrillation”, “exercise”, “physical activity” and “exercise therapy”. All prospective, retrospective, cross-sectional and cohort studies were investigated. All statistical analyzes were provided using Review Manager 5.3 to provide the mean difference (MD) and relative risk (RR) ratio with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The statistical method of heterogeneity index was used to assess heterogeneity. Level of significance was 5%.
Results:
Combined analysis of 11 studies totaling 276,323 participants aged between 12 and 90 years did not suggest a significant increase in AF in individuals submitted to physical exercise (RR = 0.914, 95% CI = 0.833-1.003, heterogeneity: p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Physical exercise, lato sensu, without stratification by intensity, sex or age does not seem to be associated with an increase of atrial fibrillation.