Exercise training for patients with chronic atrial fibrillation

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) referred for exercise rehabilitation exemplify the problem inherent in reliance on pulse rate to prescribe and monitor training intensity.

Exercise training was accomplished by specifying a training walking pace based on 60% to 80% of the peak oxygen intake (VO2max), as determined by the analysis of expired air (Horizon metabolic cart), and/or the ventilatory threshold (VT), together with a perceived exertion of 12 to 14 on the original Borg scale of perceived exertion.

At the end of 1 year, a significant training effect was demonstrated (VO2max average increase 15%, 14.8 +/- 3.6 mL/kg/min to 17.0 +/- 3.6 mL/kg/min, P < .02; VO2 at VT, average increase 14%, 11.2 +/- 2.2 to 12.8 +/- 2.6 mL/kg/min, P < .01; peak power output increase 21%, 92.5 +/- 29.3 Watts to 112 +/- 3.7 Watts, P < .05) in a group of 20 patients (13 men, 7 women) with chronic atrial fibrillation.

Patients with chronic atrial fibrillation can achieve significant functional gains from an exercise rehabilitation program.