Grant: CIHR-ICRH Travel Awards - General pool

There is a global upward trend in the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and more than 37 million people are living with this conditions. The high prevalence of AF is accompanied by an alarming increase in AF-related morbidity and mortality. AF is usually a progressive disorder with three principal subtypes: paroxysmal, persistent and permanent AF. Patients with persistent and permanent AF are often physically inactive, and have higher symptom burden and risk of morbidity and mortality when compared to paroxysmal AF. Despite pharmacological and surgical treatments, more than 80% of patients report ongoing debilitating AF. Low cardiorespiratory fitness is an independent predictor of subsequent cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with AF. Thus, interventions to increase cardiorespiratory fitness are warranted to manage the AF-related morbidity and mortality risks. With its well-established effects on increasing cardiorespiratory fitness, exercise holds great promise as a practical, non-invasive and cost-effective treatment strategy. An effective exercise intervention to target cardiorespiratory fitness of patients with AF may help turn the rising tide of AF-related complications and healthcare expenditure. Growing evidence in other cardiovascular disease populations supports the superiority of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) compared with moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training (MICT) on cardiorespiratory fitness. In patients with persistent and permanent AF, however, no trial has compared the effects of HIIT and MICT. The submitted study addresses this research gap. Our study meets the mandate of ICRH to advance research into the prevention and treatment of conditions associated with heart and blood vessels. Further, the proposed activity meets the strategic goals of ICRH to: (1) develop knowledge mobilization skills; (2) nurture professional development; (3) prioritize early career support; and, (4) advance networking.