Being physically active, even at light levels, may significantly reduce the risk of stroke and death in people with atrial fibrillation (AFib), according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The study, which analyzed data from more than 87,000 adults in Norway, found that moderate to high physical activity levels were tied to a 9% to 19% lower risk of stroke and an 11% to 22% lower risk of death from any cause, with benefits observed across all activity levels 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, a quivering or irregular heartbeat in the heart’s upper chambers, affects an estimated 10.55 million U.S. adults, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics. It can lead to blood clots, stroke, and other heart-related complications. The American Heart Association recommends all adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week, plus muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week.
The study tracked participants for about 15 years, using health registries to capture AFib, stroke, and death. Compared to inactive adults, those with low, moderate, or high physical activity had 9%, 19%, and 18% lower risks of stroke, respectively. For death from any cause, the reductions were 11%, 18%, and 22% for low, moderate, and high activity levels. Notably, these benefits were similar regardless of AFib status, suggesting that having AFib does not alter the protective relationship between exercise and stroke.
For people with AFib, staying active was linked to 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 and other organizations, noted that the study “adds important evidence linking physical activity with lower risks of stroke and death in people with and without AFib.” She added, “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.”
The study used a multiple-records approach, meaning that if someone developed AFib during follow-up, they were reclassified to the AFib group for more accurate results. Limitations include the observational design and reliance on self-reported activity levels, which may be overestimated. However, the authors suggest similar outcomes would be expected in a U.S. population.
This research underscores the importance of physical activity as a preventive strategy for all adults, particularly those with AFib. It provides reassurance that even modest exercise can yield meaningful health benefits, supporting the notion that “some is good, more is better.”
