Physical Activity significantly Effective in Reducing Risk of Cardiac Arrest: Study

In a recent study objectively measured physical activity (PA) through accelerometer reduce the risk of cardiac arrest (CA). The findings were published in Europace Journal.

While previous studies have explored acute effects of PA on cardiovascular outcomes, this study utilized data from 98,893 participants in the UK Biobank in order to specifically understand the dose-response relationship between accelerometer-measured PA and CA which was categorized by intensity.

By fully utilizing wrist-worn accelerometers, the study meticulously measured the total PA volume, including light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), and vigorous PA (VPA). Over a median follow-up period of 7.31 years, 282 incident CAs were recorded. The results revealed a compelling inverse relationship between total PA and CA risk.

This risk sharply decreased until individuals engaged in approximately 360 minutes of MPA or 20 minutes of VPA per week. After reaching these thresholds, the risk maintained a plateau. Importantly, LPA did not show a significant association with CA risk.

The study also uncovered sex-specific nuances in the relationship. Subgroup analyses demonstrated a more pronounced association between PA and reduced CA risk in women when compared to men. This suggests that engaging in accelerometer-measured PA, especially MPA and VPA, could play a crucial role in reducing the risk of experiencing a cardiac arrest particularly for women.

This study underscores the vital role of physical activity as objectively measured by accelerometers, in reducing the risk of cardiac arrest. The findings provide crucial insights into the intensity and duration of PA linked to optimal cardiovascular benefits. As there are upcoming concerns around rising cardiovascular health issues the integrating these findings into public health recommendations may make better way for more effective preventive strategies, specially tailored to needs and demographics that suit the individual.

Source:

Qiu, S., & Xing, Z. (2023). Association between accelerometer-derived physical activity and incident cardiac arrest. In Europace (Vol. 25, Issue 12). Oxford University Press (OUP). https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euad353