While no difference in mortality observed, benefits seen for atrial fibrillation symptom severity, frequency<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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THURSDAY, July 31, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (ExCR) shows clinical benefits in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a review published online July 29 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Benjamin J.R. Buckley, Ph.D., from Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to assess the impact of ExCR for patients with AF.<\/p>\n Based on 20 randomized controlled trials (2,039 participants), the researchers found that over a mean follow-up of 11 months, ExCR did not impact all-cause mortality (8.3 versus 6.0 percent; relative risk [RR], 1.06, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.76 to 1.48) or serious adverse events (2.9 versus 4.1 percent; RR 1.30, 95 percent CI, 0.66 to 2.56). ExCR did reduce AF symptom severity (mean difference [MD] \u22121.61), AF burden (MD, \u22121.61), episode frequency (MD, \u22120.57), episode duration (MD, \u22120.58), AF recurrence (RR, 0.68; 95 percent\u2009CI, 0.53 to 0.89), and improved exercise capacity (maximal oxygen consumption MD, 3.18 mL\/kg\/min). For quality of life, there was benefit for the mental component but not the physical component. <\/p>\n “AF management guidelines should reflect this updated evidence base by recommending ExCR alongside drug and ablation therapies for patients with AF,” the authors write.<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical and technology industries.<\/p>\n