Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Association of self-reported and accelerometer-based walking pace with incident cardiac arrhythmias: a prospective cohort study using UK Biobank
Authors' conclusion
Average and brisk self-reported walking pace and time spent walking at moderate and brisk pace were associated with a decreased risk of cardiac arrhythmias, in part mediated via metabolic and inflammatory pathways. Our findings suggest brisk walking may be a safe and effective exercise to reduce arrhythmias, especially for higher risk groups.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participantsself-reported walking pace available, accelerometer measured walking pace available for 81,956 · Self-reported walking pace 420,925 · Accelerometer measured walking pace 81,956
- Participants
- 420,925 participants
- Exposure
- Average and brisk walking pace compared with slow walking pace
- Outcome
- All cardiac arrhythmias
Methodological detailsUK Biobank
- UK Biobank
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Each group vs slow walking paceHazard ratio (95% CI)
Average walking pace
0.65(0.62–0.68)
Brisk walking pace
0.57(0.54–0.60)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| AFAverage walking pacevs slow walking pace | 0.62 (0.58–0.65) | |
| AFBrisk walking pacevs slow walking pace | 0.54 (0.50–0.57) | |
| Other arrhythmiasAverage walking pacevs slow walking pace | 0.69 (0.64–0.73) | |
| Other arrhythmiasBrisk walking pacevs slow walking pace | 0.61 (0.57–0.65) | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Mediation via metabolic and inflammatory markers (all arrhythmias)
- Proportion of association between walking pace and all arrhythmias mediated via metabolic and inflammatory markers
- 36.0%
Subgroups
- Associations stronger in women, in those aged <60 years, in those with a body mass index <30, in those who had hypertension and in those with ≥2 long term conditions
Original publication
Association of self-reported and accelerometer-based walking pace with incident cardiac arrhythmias: a prospective cohort study using UK Biobank. Heart. Published 15 April 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →