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

The 2020 Canadian Cardiovascular Society guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) are the first to include physical activity (PA) targets (≥ 200 minutes per week of moderate intensity PA, 2-3 days per week of resistance training, and if older than 65 years of age, 10 minutes per day of flexibility training 2 days per week). The primary purpose of this observational study was to assess whether health care professionals are discussing PA with their patients with AF. The secondary purposes were to explore specific PA recommendations, any PA referrals provided, and sex-based variations in PA discussions.

Patients who attended an AF management appointment at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute were asked to complete a questionnaire to assess whether PA discussions occurred. Subsequently, patients' medical records were reviewed for any documentation of PA discussions.

A total of 195 patients with AF (35.4% female) participated in the study and 49% reported no discussion of PA with their cardiologist. Of those who reported such a PA discussion, 22% had no documentation of the discussion in their medical record. Most patients did not receive specific PA recommendations regarding frequency, intensity, time, and type (63%-71%) from their cardiologist. Females were provided frequency recommendations (ie, how often to engage in PA) more often than men (χ² = 5.256; P = 0.022).

Only limited PA discussions occur between AF patients and their health care professionals, which suggests that patients with AF are not receiving important, relevant information about PA. This is a missed opportunity for incorporating the well-established health benefits of PA in the care of those with AF.