Adults with atrial fibrillation (AFib) may significantly reduce their risk of stroke and death by engaging in even light physical activity, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The study, which tracked more than 87,000 adults in Norway for about 15 years, found that moderate to high levels of physical activity were linked to a 9% to 19% lower risk of stroke and an 11% to 22% lower risk of death from any cause, compared to inactivity.
“In general, people with AFib appear to be less active than the general population,” said lead study author Kristoffer Johansen, Ph.D., a researcher at the School of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø. “The results from our study indicate that physical activity was associated with a reduced risk of stroke and death in individuals with and without atrial fibrillation. So, regular physical activity is important for all and could be an important preventive strategy for people with AFib.”
AFib is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, and other heart-related complications. According to the American Heart Association, the prevalence of AFib in the U.S. is estimated at 10.55 million, or 4.48% of the adult population, based on data from the 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics. The American Heart Association recommends that all adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week, plus muscle-strengthening activities twice a week.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal, analyzed health data from participants in the HUNT Study and the Tromsø Study. Participants were divided into four groups based on their self-reported physical activity levels: inactive, low, moderate, and high. The findings showed that even low levels of activity were beneficial: compared to inactive adults, those with low, moderate, or high activity had a 9%, 19%, and 18% lower risk of stroke, respectively. For death from any cause, the reductions were 11%, 18%, and 22%, respectively.
Importantly, the benefits were similar regardless of whether a person had AFib, suggesting that the relationship between physical activity and stroke is not altered by the condition. For people with AFib, staying active was associated with living an average of 0.5 to 1.2 years longer compared to inactive individuals.
“I hope our results will increase awareness among clinicians and people with AFib about the benefits of even low levels of physical activity,” Johansen said. “Real health benefits can happen no matter when a person starts getting active, and even a little exercise is better than nothing.”
Mina Chung, M.D., FAHA, co-chair of a 2023 joint guideline for Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation from the American Heart Association, noted that the study “adds important evidence linking physical activity with lower risks of stroke and death in people with and without AFib. It’s important to remember that physical activity may also reflect overall health. Still, the results motivate patients to be as active as they can - even lower levels of activity were associated with benefit, while moderate to high levels were linked to greater benefit.”
Study limitations include the observational design, reliance on self-reported activity, and potential confounding factors such as overall healthier lifestyles among active individuals. However, the authors believe similar results would be expected in a U.S. population. The findings underscore the potential for physical activity as a key preventive strategy for AFib patients, who are often less active than the general population.
For more information on physical activity and heart health, visit the American Heart Association’s Getting Physically Active resource and the Healthy for Good™ initiative.
