# Exercise and Atrial Fibrillation Follow a U-Shaped Curve

_Evidence Level: Moderate · Davies CL et al., European journal of preventive cardiology, DOI 10.1093/eurjpc/zwag535_

*Physical activity, atrial fibrillation and the dose-response relationship: a systematic review and meta-analysis.*

- **Evidence Level**: Moderate
- **Why this grade**: A meta-analysis of 37 studies with nearly 1.3 million people that describes associations rather than causes; exercise amounts were standardised after the fact.
- **Publication Types**: Journal Article
- **Journal**: European journal of preventive cardiology
- **Sample Size**: 37 studies, 1,298,291 people
- **Authors**: Davies CL, Pallikadavath S, March DS, Lock S, Puranik A, Singh A, Ng GA, McCann GP
- **Graded and published**: 2026-10-12
- **Last edited**: 2026-10-14
- **Topics**: Heart Health, Cardio Fitness, Exercise
- **DOI**: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwag535
- **Original Source**: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42861574/

## Summary

In a meta-analysis, physically active people had atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder, less often than sedentary people. At very high training volumes, however, the pattern reversed. The researchers combined 37 studies covering nearly 1.3 million people and converted activity into a common unit, MET-hours per week. Atrial fibrillation was least common at about 26 MET-hours, while beyond 78 MET-hours, roughly 6 to 7 hours of endurance training a week, the odds of atrial fibrillation were rising again. These associations cannot show whether very heavy training itself causes the rhythm disorder.

## Practical Takeaway

Exercise and atrial fibrillation showed a U-shaped link, with the disorder becoming more common again at very high endurance volumes.

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_Canonical: https://longevity-germany.com/en/research/exercise-and-atrial-fibrillation-follow-a-u-shaped-curve · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-10-14_