Arrythmia can be a precursor of later, more severe heart issues, indicative of a level of dysfunction in heart tissue arising due to aging or other causes. It can also result from electrolyte imbalances that in turn arise from lifestyle choices. Arrythmia is generally taken as a point of concern by physicians where it occurs in older patients. Here, researchers show that a low level of fitness is independently a risk factor in the development of arrythmia, distinctly from old age. There are many other well-known reasons to maintain fitness into later life, but perhaps this finding will motivate an additional segment of the population.
New research has revealed that older age and low aerobic fitness levels are strong and independent risk factors for a high burden of heartbeat irregularities, known as arrhythmias, that indicate future cardiovascular risk. 1,151 healthy individuals aged between the ages of 40 and 65, without any heart symptoms or structural heart disease, took part in the study. The mean age of participants was 52 ± 7 years and 88% were men and 12% were female. Participants' fitness and heart health were monitored during exercise stress testing using portable and continuous electrocardiography (ECG) that records the heart's electrical activity, also known as Holter monitoring.
Researchers grouped participants by their 'median ectopy daily burden' which is the average percentage of premature or early heartbeats per day. They categorised the participants into having a low or high ectopy (irregular heartbeat) burden. They found that 32% of participants had supraventricular tachycardia, 4% had atrial fibrillation and 6% had nonsustained ventriculatachycardia - all of which are complex arrhythmias.
Analysis revealed that 'high atrial ectopic burden' was associated with older age, male sex, lower fitness levels, high blood pressure, and a measure of reduced kidney health. High ventricular ectopic burden was associated with older age and a measure of reduced kidney health - but was not related to fitness levels. Multivariable analysis confirmed that older age and lower fitness levels were strong, independent risk factors for atrial ectopy burden. The researchers found that the chance of arrhythmia increased by 9% per year for atrial and 4% per year for ventricular arrhythmia. Age-stratified analysis demonstrated a marked rise in arrhythmia prevalence starting from the 50-54 age group.
View the full article at FightAging
