A multi-site population health study evaluating the physical activity levels of patients with atrial fibrillation (CANSURVEY-AF)

This project is concerned with a serious heart-beat condition known as atrial fibrillation (AF), a major health problem in Canada. AF sufferers have poor exercise tolerance and bothersome symptoms (palpitations, breathlessness, dizziness, fatigue), with increased risks of stroke and death. Unfortunately, most AF patients report debilitating ongoing symptoms with current treatments (i.e. medications and surgery). Regular physical activity (PA) has been shown to improve exercise tolerance and quality of life (QoL), and reduced symptoms and time spent in AF. The 2020 clinical guidelines for AF patients include exercise targets, but patients may not be receiving this information. Research in other countries shows low PA levels among AF patients, but high-quality data are lacking for the PA levels of Canadians living with AF. AF patients' knowledge, outcome expectations and self-efficacy that influence their decision to engage in PA have also yet to be researched. Our project aims to measure the PA levels of AF patients across Canada. We will also examine their knowledge, outcome expectations and self-efficacy regarding PA, and how this relates to their PA levels, time in AF, symptoms and QoL. We will use monitors to measure the PA levels and time in AF, and questionnaires to examine their knowledge, outcome expectations and self-efficacy regarding PA as well as symptoms and QoL. We will recruit 1,136 people with AF from five sites across Canada (Ottawa, Halifax, Laval, Toronto, Vancouver). If our project shows that AF patients have low PA levels and these levels relate to their time in AF, symptoms and QoL, then doctors will have important information to convey to AF patients as they consider their treatment options. Understanding the knowledge, outcome expectations and self-efficacy of AF patients regarding PA will also help to improve strategies that can increase PA and QoL, and reduce bothersome symptoms for the management of this serious medical condition.