A Glass Half-Full: Physical Activity Discussions Between Health Care Professionals and Patients With Atrial...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Preventive Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• The 2020 Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) Guidelines for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) introduced specific physical activity (PA) targets.
• These guidelines recommend ≥200 minutes/week of moderate-intensity PA, 2-3 days/week of resistance training, and flexibility training for older adults.
• This study addresses the integration of these PA recommendations into clinical practice for AF patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if healthcare professionals (HCPs) discuss PA with patients diagnosed with AF.
• To investigate the specificity of PA recommendations and referrals provided to AF patients.
• To explore potential sex-based differences in PA discussions and recommendations.

Main Methods:

• An observational study was conducted involving patients attending AF management appointments.
• Patients completed a questionnaire regarding discussions about PA with their HCPs.
• Medical records were reviewed to verify documentation of PA discussions.

Main Results:

• Nearly half (49%) of the 195 AF patients reported no PA discussion with their cardiologist.
• Among those reporting discussions, 22% lacked medical record documentation.
• Most patients (63-71%) did not receive specific PA recommendations (frequency, intensity, time, type); females received frequency recommendations more often than males.

Conclusions:

• Limited discussions about PA between AF patients and HCPs indicate a significant gap in patient education.
• AF patients are not consistently receiving vital information regarding the health benefits and guidelines of PA.
• There is a missed opportunity to leverage PA for improved cardiovascular health outcomes in AF management.