Exercise capacity and atrial fibrillation risk in 459,592 hypertensives: a cohort study

Our findings support that increased fitness offer a marked protection against AF. The association was inverse, independent, and graded. Significantly lower AF risk was evident in those with only modest increases in exercise capacity and declined by > 50% for individuals in the High-fit category. These findings counter previous suggestions that even moderate increases in physical activity, (recommended by guidelines), increase the risk of AF.