Lifestyle physical activity and rapid-rate non-sustained ventricular tachycardia in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy

Heart. 2023 Jun 14;109(13):992-999. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2022-321824.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association of accelerometer-measured lifestyle physical activity with rapid-rate non-sustained ventricular tachycardias (RR-NSVTs) in patients with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC).

Methods: This multicentre, observational study enrolled 72 patients with AC, including right, left and biventricular forms of the disease, with underlying desmosomal and non-desmosomal mutations. Lifestyle physical activity, objectively monitored with accelerometers (ie, movement sensors) and RR-NSVT, identified as >188 bpm and >18 beats from a textile Holter ECG for 30 days.

Results: Sixty-three patients with AC (38±17.6 years, 57% men) were included. A total of 17 patients experienced ≥1 RR-NSVTs, and a total of 35 events were recorded. The odds of occurrence of ≥1 RR-NSVT during the recording did not increase as a function of either total physical activity (OR 0.95, 95% CI (CI95%) 0.68 to 1.30 for 60 min increase) or moderate-to-vigorous activities (OR 0.89, CI95% 0.71 to 1.08 for 5 min increase). Participants presenting RR-NSVTs during the recording (n=17) did not present greater odds of RR-NSVT in the days with more time either in total physical activity (OR 1.05, CI95% 0.84 to 1.29 for additional 60 min) or moderate-to-vigorous activities (OR 1.05, CI95% 0.97 to 1.12 for additional 5 min). Physical activity levels were neither different between the patients with and without RR-NSVTs during the recording period nor in the days of occurrence of RR-NSVT compared with the rest of the days. Finally, 4 of the 35 RR-NSVTs recorded in the 30 days occurred during physical activity (3 during moderate-to-vigorous intensity and 1 during light-intensity activities).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that lifestyle physical activity is not associated with RR-NSVTs in patients with AC.

Keywords: arrhythmias, cardiac; tachycardia, ventricular.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cardiomyopathies* / complications
  • Electrocardiography, Ambulatory
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular* / complications
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular* / etiology