An interventional study of Moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and High-intensity interval training (HIIT) in Atrial Fibrillation, Persistent Atrial Fibrillation and Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation, sponsored by Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation. Completed at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 40 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-25.
Sponsored by Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The main purpose of this pilot project is to measure the feasibility of conducting a randomized crossover study examining short-term changes in atrial fibrillation (AF) symptoms in symptomatic females and males with paroxysmal or persistent AF when they engage in a standard week of exercise (i.e. moderate-intensity continuous training [MICT] or high-intensity interval training [HIIT]) compared to a control week (i.e. no moderate to vigorous exercise over 7 days).
Exercise training (e.g. 8 to 12-week exercise programs) has been shown to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and QoL, and reduce atrial fibrillation (AF) symptoms and time in AF in patients with AF. However, regular exercise participation is hindered by patient concerns regarding an increase in AF symptoms and episodes during or following an exercise session. Patients with AF also worry about potential negative consequences of increasing heart rate during exercise. This fear may be sex-specific as females report more AF symptoms at rest, experience faster heart rates during exercise and AF, and report greater symptoms of fear/anxiety than males. How exercise acutely changes AF symptoms remains to be examined.
The main purpose of this pilot project is to measure the feasibility of conducting a randomized crossover study examining short-term changes in AF symptoms in symptomatic females and males with paroxysmal or persistent AF when they engage in a standard week of exercise (i.e. moderate-intensity continuous training [MICT] or high-intensity interval training [HIIT]) compared to a control week (i.e. no moderate to vigorous exercise over 7 days). As secondary outcomes we will explore sex differences in short-term changes in AF symptoms (self reported with a questionnaire) and AF status (device measured with a wireless four-finger AliveCor KardiaMobile ECG) when symptomatic patients with AF engage in a standard week of exercise (i.e. HIIT, MICT) compared to a control week. Results from this pilot study will provide novel insight into the typical acute response to exercise in females and males with AF, and will inform appropriate approaches for the conduct of a future larger trial. This work is key to informing practitioners and patients of the typical acute exercise response in the AF population with the goal of facilitating exercise prescription and participation.
3,870 studies on the registry are indexed under Atrial Fibrillation; 924 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 25 is below the median of 144 across 2,380 interventional studies indexed under Atrial Fibrillation.
Browse Atrial Fibrillation studies →Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation is the lead sponsor of 179 studies on the registry; 41 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Participants will do 3 sessions of moderate-intensity continous exercise training over 7 days
Behavioral: Moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT)
Participants will do 3 sessions of high-intensity interval training over 7 days
Behavioral: High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
Participants will abstain from doing moderate- to high-intensity interval training over 7 days
Participants will engage in exercise and record AF symptoms prospectively over 7 days
Participants will engage in exercise and record AF symptoms prospectively over 7 days
Feasibility of the pilot study - Recruitment and consent rate
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 years
Feasibility of the pilot study - Participant fidelity
E.g. ability of participants to comply with the exercise prescription, number of exercise sessions attended
Time frame: During the week of HIIT and MICT (2 weeks)
Feasibility of the pilot study - Study retention
Dropout rate of participants
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 years
Feasibility of the pilot study - Study eligibility refinement
Data to refine inclusion and exclusion criteria for a larger trial will be used by balancing safety, ability to complete the intervention, and generalizability (e.g. is an exclusion criterion of threshold of participation in \>2 structured exercise sessions/week sufficient or restrictive?)
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 years
Feasibility of the pilot study - Adverse events
Side effects and adverse events during the study
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1.5 years
AF symptoms self-reported with a 7-day patient symptom questionnaire
Secondary objectives will explore sex differences in short-term changes in AF symptoms when symptomatic females and males with AF engage in a standard week of exercise (MICT or HIIT), compared to a control (rest) week. Participants will report AF symptoms prospectively during each condition. They will complete a 7-day questionnaire during MICT, a 7-day questionnaire during HIIT and a 7-day questionnaire during the rest week.
Time frame: 3 weeks (1 week of HIIT, 1 week of MICT, 1 week fo rest)
AF status measured daily with a KardiaMobile device
Secondary objectives will explore sex differences in short-term changes in AF status when symptomatic females and males with AF engage in a standard week of exercise (MICT or HIIT), compared to a control week. AF status will be measured with a Kardiamobile AliveCor wireless device. Participants will be asked to record 3 x 30-second ECGs a day (morning, afternoon, evening) during each condition (MICT, HIIT and rest). The ECG recording will allow the identification of whether the participant is in sinus rhythm or in atrial fibrillation.
Time frame: 3 weeks (1 week of HIIT, 1 week of MICT, 1 week fo rest)
This study is completed, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation