Active way of life related with lower risk of death from a heart failure

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• Source: European Society of Cardiology


• Date: 13 Feb,2021

An active lifestyle is linked with a lower chance of dying immediately from a heart attack, according to a study published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally and prevention is a major public health priority. The beneficial effect of physical activity in preventing heart disease and sudden death on a population level is well documented. This study concentrated on the effect of an active versus sedentary lifestyle on the immediate path of a heart attack – an area with minimal information.

The researchers used data from 10 European observational cohorts including healthy participants with a baseline assessment of physical activity who had a heart attack during follow-up – a total of 28,140 individuals. Participants were categorized according to their weekly level of leisure-time physical activity as sedentary, low, moderate, or large.

The association between activity level and the possibility of death because of heart attack (instantly and within 28 days) was examined in each cohort separately and then the results were pooled. The analyses were adjusted for age, gender, diabetes, blood pressure, family history of heart disease, smoking, body mass index, blood cholesterol, alcohol consumption, and socioeconomic status.

A total of 4,976 (17.7%) participants died within 28 days of the heart attack – of these, 3,101 (62.3percent ) died instantly. Overall, a higher level of physical activity was associated with a lower risk of instantaneous and 28-day fatal heart attack, seemingly in a dose-response-like method. Patients who had engaged in moderate and high levels of leisure-time physical activity had a 33% and 45% lower chance of immediate death compared to sedentary individuals. At 28 days these amounts were 36% and 28%, respectively. The connection with low action did not reach statistical significance.

Almost 18% of patients with a heart attack died within 28 days, substantiating the severity of this condition. We found an immediate survival benefit of prior physical activity in the setting of a heart attack, a benefit which seemed preserved at 28 days.”

Dr. Kim Wadt Hansen, Study Author, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

He noted:”According to our investigations, even a very low amount of leisure-time physical activity may in fact be beneficial against fatal heart attacks, but statistical uncertainty precludes us from drawing any firm conclusions on this point.”

The authors said in the newspaper:”Our pooled analysis provides strong support for the recommendations on weekly physical activity in healthy adults stated in the 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice;2 particularly as we used cut-off values for physical activity like those used in the guidelines.”

The guidelines recommend that healthy adults of all ages perform at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity or an equivalent combination thereof.

Dr. Hansen concluded:”There are a number of ways to be physically active at little or no price. Our study provides yet more proof for the rewards of exercise.”