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

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association of accelerometer-measured lifestyle physical activity with the incidence of rapid-rate non-sustained ventricular tachycardias (RR-NSVT) during a 30-day recording period in AC patients. Methods: This multicenter, observational study enrolled 72 AC patients, including right, left-, and biventricular forms of the disease, with underlying desmosomal and non desmosomal mutations. Lifestyle physical activity was objectively monitored with accelerometers (i.e., movement sensors), and RR-NSVT were identified from a textile Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) for 30 days as those faster than 188 bpm and longer than 18 beats. Results: Sixty-three AC patients (38 [SD=17.6] years, 57% men) provided data on physical activity and ventricular tachycardias. A total of 17 patients experienced ≥1 RR-NSVTs, and a total of 35 events were recorded. Participants presenting RR-NSVTs during the 30-day measurement (n=17) did not perform more lifestyle physical activity (P=0.734), neither more activities of moderate-to-vigorous intensity (P=0.245) than their peers without RR-NSVTs in this period. Likewise, participants with RR-NSVTs did not increase their activity level, neither the activities of any intensity (-5 min/day on average) nor those of moderate-to-vigorous intensity (+2 min/day on average) in the days of RR-NSVTs occurrence. Finally, we observed that around half of the RR-NSVTs recorded in the 30 days occurred at rest (i.e., 19 RR-NSVTs), and the other half occurred after or during physical activity (i.e.,16 RR-NSVTs). Conclusion: These findings suggest that lifestyle physical activity, mainly of light and moderate intensity, does not increase the risk for RR-NSVTs in AC patients.