To describe physical activity levels in elderly patients with permanent AF with special reference to different days of the week and different time of the day. Further to describe the physical activity level in these patients in relation to the WHO recommendations.
A total of 96 patients (28 women) with permanent AF, mean age 74 years (65-85 years) were recruited from hospital clinics and primary care to a randomized controlled trial between 2014-2018. In the present study all baseline values were included regardless of randomisation. All patients carried an accelerometer (Actigraph® GT3x+; Actigraph, Pensacola, Florida, USA) for 7 whole days except when taking a bath or a shower. Physical activity level was calculated according to the cutoff values defined by Copeland et al.
All 96 patients had baseline accelerometer data. A significant difference was found in moderate to vigourous physical activity (MVPA) between different days of the week, p=0.003. On average 134±53 min was spent in MVPA during the week. For MVPA calculated in bouts of 10 minutes duration the average time spent during the week was 28 ± 25 min. Significantly more time were spent as sedentary compared to light physical activity p=0.0001 and MVPA p= 0.0001. Less MVPA were achieved in the evening 188 ± 111 min compared to the afternoon 439 ± 171 min p= 0.0001 and compared to the morning 311 ± 156 min p= 0.0001.
This cohort of elderly patients with permanent AF did meet MVPA recommendations in WHO guidelines. Although the MVPA defined by WHO was achieved, they spent most of their time being sedentary.
This study shows that living with permanent AF not automatically mean a low diurnal MVPA. Still, it remains to evaluate whether MVPA accomplished improves health outcomes in older adults with permanent AF in the same way as individually prescribed center-based cardiac rehabilitation.
Physical activity
Accelerometer
