Next Article in Journal
Cardiovascular Disease and Chronic Pulmonary Disease Increase the Risk of Short-Term Major Postoperative Complications after Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy
Next Article in Special Issue
Catheter Ablation of Atrial Tachycardia after Pulmonary Vein Isolation in a Patient with Common Ostium of Inferior Pulmonary Veins: Case Report
Previous Article in Journal
Does Early Mobilization Following Resection of Spinal Intra-Dural Pathology Increase the Risk of Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks?—A Dual-Center Comparative Effectiveness Research
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Review

A New Player in the Game: Can Exergame Be of Support in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation?

by
Donato Giuseppe Leo
1,2 and
Riccardo Proietti
1,2,*
1
Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
2
Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L8 7TX, UK
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Medicina 2024, 60(1), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60010172
Submission received: 20 November 2023 / Revised: 18 December 2023 / Accepted: 12 January 2024 / Published: 17 January 2024

Abstract

:
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia, currently affecting 2–3% of the world’s population. Traditional exercise and physical activity interventions have been successfully implemented in the management of AF, with the aim of improving patients’ quality of life and their exercise capacity, as well as reducing their mortality rate. Currently, new technology-mediated approaches to exercise, defined as exergame, have been shown to be successful in the delivery of exercise home-based interventions in patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, data on the effects of exergame on AF are not yet available. In this paper, we summarise the current literature on the role of traditional exercise in AF and how it affects the pathophysiology of this condition. We also review the current literature on exergame and its employment in cardiac rehabilitation and suggest its potential role in the management of AF patients. A review of the evidence suggests that traditional exercise (of light-to-moderate intensity) is beneficial in patients with AF. Additionally, exergame seems to be a promising approach for delivering exercise interventions in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Exergame may be a promising tool to improve the quality of life and exercise capacity in patients with AF, with the additional advantage of being remotely delivered, and the potential to increase patients’ engagement. Proper guidelines are required to prescribe exergame interventions, considering the principles of traditional exercise prescription and applying them to this new e-health approach. Further studies are needed to validate the use of exergame in patients with AF.

Graphical Abstract

1. Introduction

With 2–3% of the world’s population affected, atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia, inducing the rapid and irregular beating of the heart’s atrial chambers [1]. Known risk factors for the onset of AF are hypertension, coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, obesity, diabetes mellitus, thyrotoxicosis, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption [2,3,4,5]. The management of AF has embraced a holistic and integrated care approach (ABC—Atrial Fibrillation Better Care—pathway), following a step-wise assessment of the patient [6,7].
Exercise and physical activity play an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease [8], and they have been proven to be effective in improving exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with AF, thereby reducing the mortality rate in this cohort [9,10]. Furthermore, exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation has been shown to be associated with a better prognosis in patients with AF [11].
In recent years, with the advent of more sophisticated game technology, a new entertainment style of exercise and physical activity has emerged, called exergame or active video game. Exergame is defined as any form of video game software that requires physical exertion in order to be played [12]. This approach to exercise is increasing in popularity not only in the entertainment market but also in the field of exercise-based rehabilitation [13], proving to be potentially effective in increasing the physical activity level of older adults [14] and their cardiovascular fitness [13,15]. However, some limitations on the employment of exergame in the healthcare contest are still present. Although some beneficial effects of exergame on cardiovascular fitness and on the overall quality of life of patients with cardiovascular diseases have been proven, this modality has yet to be taken into consideration as an exercise-based rehabilitation model for patients with AF. Therefore, the aim of this review is to highlight the role that exergame plays in exercise-based interventions for cardiovascular diseases, its limitations, and the potential applications of this approach in improving cardiovascular outcomes and quality of life in patients with AF.

2. Select Player One: Exercise-Based Interventions in the Management of AF

Regular exercise induces beneficial cardiac adaptations (e.g., lower resting heart rate, increased stroke volume, and better systolic and diastolic functions) [16,17], and also positively affects BMI, glucose and lipid control, and blood pressure, which are all known risk factors for AF [17,18] (Figure 1). Patients’ activity levels can be negatively affected by the burden of AF [19]. Nevertheless, exercise-based cardiac interventions have been proven to be effective in increasing the quality of life and the exercise capacity of patients with AF (Table 1). A randomised-controlled trial [20] conducted in Canada on a sample of 81 patients with nonvalvular AF showed that a 6-month exercise and nutritional intervention consisting of a home-based physical activity plan of 200 min/week (month 1 to 6), including 2 weekly sessions of supervised cardiac rehabilitation (month 4 to 6), improved the quality of life in this cohort. Similarly, a randomised controlled study [21] conducted in Denmark on a sample of 52 patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF showed that a 6-month exercise intervention consisting of two weekly sessions of supervised cardiac rehabilitation (with at least 30 min of aerobic exercise at ≥70% of maximum exercise capacity) improved the quality of life of these patients compared to standard care. The same study also showed an improvement in the exercise capacity in the intervention group [21]. Another randomised controlled study [22] conducted in Denmark on a sample of 47 patients with permanent AF showed that a 12-week exercise intervention consisting of 1 h three times per week of supervised training improved patients’ overall quality of life compared to the baseline. The study also showed that the intervention increased the exercise capacity and reduced the resting pulse rate of the participants [22].
Furthermore, a randomised controlled study [23] conducted in Norway on a sample of 28 patients with chronic AF showed the positive effects of a 2-month exercise program (consisting of 24 training sessions—1.25 h × 3 days/week—of aerobic exercise and muscular strengthening) on the quality of life of these patients compared to usual care. The study also showed that exercise capacity increased by 41% (±36%) in the intervention group [23].
The mortality rate was also reduced in patients with AF when they participated in exercise-based interventions. Indeed, a retrospective cohort study [24] conducted on an international dataset of 1,366,422 patients with AF showed that exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation is associated with 68% lower odds of all-cause mortality.
However, it is important to highlight that only light-to-moderate exercise intensity is recommended in patients with AF, with vigorous-intensity exercise exhibiting potential detrimental effects [17,25]. The remodelling of the heart induced by exercise, known as ‘athlete’s heart’, does extend the normal cardiac dimension and functions (remodelling of the heart), causing difficulties in discriminating between changes due to the cardiac adaptations to exercise and pathophysiological changes (such as arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy) [26]. This is especially true when taking into account hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a myocardial disease caused by gene mutations that induce a hypertrophied left ventricle), of which electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiographic findings often overlap with the athlete’s heart [27]. Changes that fall under the athlete’s heart include bradycardia, cardiac hypertrophy, and ECG abnormalities [28]. The modality of exercise strongly influences the risk of developing AF, with athletes of mixed sports being at a higher risk of developing AF compared to athletes of endurance sports [29]. Interestingly, it seems that the risk of developing AF is greater in younger athletes (<55 years old) compared to older athletes [29], but the mechanisms behind this are not yet clear. Men regularly engaging in vigorous-intensity exercise have been shown to have a 12% increased risk of developing AF [30]. In women, on the contrary, vigorous exercise seems to have a protective effect against the onset of AF [30]. The relationship between high-intensity exercise and the risk of AF is still not fully understood [17]. However, potential causes may be related to vigorous exercise inducing more long-term changes in autonomic activation [17,31], exercise-induced atrial dilatation [17,31,32], induction of more supraventricular premature beats [17,33], and systemic inflammation [17,34] (Figure 1). Suggested explanations for gender differences relate to men being potentially more affected by vigorous exercise due to their large atria and for having more exercise-induced remodelling of the heart [35].
In addition, when considering exercise interventions for AF patients, it is also important to consider secondary forms of AF, as different pathophysiological mechanisms, the presence of comorbidities, and polypharmacy are all factors that need to be taken into account in the prescription of exercise-based rehabilitation [36]. Indeed, patients with AF are often burdened by several comorbidities [37], with several studies showing an association between various conditions (such as hyperthyroidism [38] or channelopathies [39,40]) and an increased risk of developing AF. Emotional stress and anxiety also play important roles in the onset of AF [41,42] due to their negative impact on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical axis [43,44]. Furthermore, lifestyle changes (e.g., alcohol intake and smoking cessation) are highly relevant for the prevention and management of AF [45], with increased physical activity and reduction in sedentary behaviour only partially accountable for the improved management of these patients, for whom a more holistic approach is highly beneficial [46,47].

3. Levelling-Up: Exergame as an Intervention for Cardiovascular Diseases

Few studies [48,49,50,51,52] have assessed the efficacy of exergame as a tool to improve traditional exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (Table 2). The advantage of exergame over most traditional cardiac rehabilitation programs is the possibility for the patients to conduct the intervention at home [53] using a normal video game hardware (e.g., game console), reducing National Health System (NHS) costs [54], and reducing barriers to access rehabilitation for patients (e.g., travel distance and schedule flexibility) [55]. The risks of adverse events associated with home-based cardiac rehabilitation have been deemed to be low [56].
A pre–post test study [48] conducted in Jamaica on a sample of 28 patients with different cardiovascular diseases (mainly hypertension—68% and coronary artery disease—79%) showed that a 6-week exergame intervention consisting of 3 × 40 min/week training sessions with the Nintendo Wii Fit Plus software can improve functional endurance in this cohort. Another randomised controlled study [50] conducted in Spain on 20 patients with ischemic heart disease showed that 8 weeks of exergame consisting of 2 × 60 min/week aerobic sessions using the Microsoft XBOX with the Kinect sensor improved exercise capacity and quality of life and reduced depression in the intervention group. However, the results did not show statistically significant differences compared to the traditional exercise intervention (control group) (p > 0.05) [50]. A pilot study [49] conducted in Sweden on a sample of 32 patients with heart failure showed that an exergame intervention of 12 weeks consisting of 20 min × day of playing the Nintendo Wii Sports software was successful in increasing the exercise capacity of 53% of this cohort. However, an international randomised controlled trial [52] conducted on a sample of 605 patients with heart failure engaged in a 12-month exergame intervention consisting of 5 × 30 min weekly sessions with the Nintendo Wii Sports software showed no statistically significant differences in exercise capacity compared with traditional physical activity (control group). Also, another randomised controlled study [51] conducted in Portugal on a sample of 33 patients who completed phase II cardiac rehabilitation and underwent a 6-month home-based exergame intervention consisting of 3 × 60–90 min weekly sessions using the Microsoft XBOX Kinect did not find any statistically significant differences in terms of improved quality of life and reduced depression compared with traditional exercise (group 2—performing the same exercise protocol without the Kinect) or usual care (group 3—control group) (p > 0.05).
The differences in results between the above-mentioned studies can be explained by different factors, which also extend to the literature concerning exergame interventions for other health conditions. Firstly, it is important to note that there is confusion in the literature about the term “exergame” [57]. Indeed, exergame is not always associated with a specific exercise intervention, but rather with a variety of interventions that target different components of physical fitness (e.g., strength, flexibility, and endurance) [57]. There are studies that define, using the term “exergame”, interventions that use only virtual reality as a supplement to traditional exercise/physical activity [15], whereas other studies have used the term to define mobile applications that simply promote physical activity (e.g., increasing the daily step count) [58,59]. In our synthesis, we have only included studies that use exergame interventions based on hardware/software that requires physical exertion to be played (e.g., using motion control to play a simulated tennis game, or using a camera to recognise body movement and translate it to in-game actions) [48,49,50,51,52].
Studies that have assessed the efficacy of exergame on health-related outcomes show a high heterogeneity between the devices used to deliver the intervention, which also affects the type of exercise administered: game console, mobile phone, virtual reality visor, and dedicated hardware platform [60,61,62,63,64]. Additionally, the intensity and frequency of the exergame intervention are not always taken into account, as acknowledged by Jaarsma et al. (2021) [52] in the discussion of the findings of their study. This is a major limitation of studies assessing the efficacy of exergame in improving cardiovascular outcomes, as frequency and intensity are key components of an exercise program and are highly relevant to cardiac rehabilitation [65,66]. Moreover, differences in the study design, sample size, and duration of the intervention can all play a significant role in the final results.

4. Let’s Start the Game: Potential Role of Exergame in the Management of AF

Exercise and physical activity can improve the quality of life and exercise capacity in patients with AF [20,21,22,23] and also reduce their mortality rates [24]. Exergame has shown promise in delivering similar effects to traditional exercise, improving the quality of life and exercise capacity in patients with cardiovascular disorders [48,49,50]. Moreover, exergame has also the potential for more entertaining interventions, which may increase treatment adherence and reduce potential barriers to accessing cardiac rehabilitation [55,67]. However, so far exergame interventions have often neglected the importance of frequency, intensity, time (duration), and type of exercise that are essential for the success of an exercise program [68]. Moreover, the heterogeneity of the platforms and software used to deliver the intervention may lead to poor outcomes. Clear guidelines for exergame prescription should be identified before attempting to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention in cardiac rehabilitation and, more specifically, in the management of patients with AF. Exergame can be a promising tool to enhance exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation, with the potential to be administered both in clinical settings and in-home settings. With the rapid advancement of technology, the integration of exergame platforms with wearable health sensors [69] and the Internet of Things (IoT) [70] may lead to better clinical management, thereby allowing the clinical team to remotely monitor the progress of the training program, making rapid adjustments where necessary. Exergames can also be played together with family members in the comfort of the patient’s home, potentially increasing adherence and adding enjoyment to the treatment [67]. The innovation of exergame interventions in the management of AF may be game changing, especially when considering the importance of home-based rehabilitation interventions in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdown [71]. However, a proper definition of the essential parameters of an exergame intervention is fundamental before attempting further studies to assess its effectiveness.
As a final note, some limitations in relation to our synthesis are noteworthy. First, as a narrative review, it lacks a systematic approach, and some relevant studies may have been potentially overlooked and excluded. It is also important to note that the quality of the included studies varied markedly in terms of methods, design, and sample size, and that no formal quality assessment of these studies was completed.

5. Conclusions

The increasing incidence of AF is a worldwide burden. Exercise of light to moderate intensity has been shown to play a positive role in the management of AF, thereby improving the quality of life of patients and their exercise capacity and reducing the mortality rate in this cohort. Exergame is a new approach to exercise and physical activity interventions, which has already been implemented in exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for patients with cardiovascular diseases, showing promising potential. Despite the increasing popularity of exergame in healthcare and cardiovascular rehabilitation, no studies have investigated the effects of this approach in patients with AF. The advantage of exergame compared to traditional exercise interventions is the possibility of planning personalised, home-based interventions that may also facilitate patients’ adherence to treatment. However, clear guidelines on exergame prescription, especially focusing on frequency, intensity, time (duration), and type of activity, should be properly defined before attempting studies aiming to show exergame effectiveness in AF patients.

Author Contributions

D.G.L.: conception and design of the paper, drafting of the manuscript, and critical revision. R.P.: conception and design of the paper and critical revision. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

  1. Kornej, J.; Börschel, C.S.; Benjamin, E.J.; Schnabel, R.B. Epidemiology of Atrial Fibrillation in the 21st Century. Circ. Res. 2020, 127, 4–20. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Lau, D.H.; Nattel, S.; Kalman, J.M.; Sanders, P. Modifiable risk factors and atrial fibrillation. Circulation 2017, 136, 583–596. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Larsson, S.C.; Drca, N.; Wolk, A. Alcohol consumption and risk of atrial fibrillation: A prospective study and dose-response meta-analysis. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2014, 64, 281–289. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  4. Aune, D.; Schlesinger, S.; Norat, T.; Riboli, E. Tobacco smoking and the risk of atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Eur. J. Prev. Cardiol. 2018, 25, 1437–1451. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  5. Anumonwo, J.M.B.; Kalifa, J. Risk Factors and Genetics of Atrial Fibrillation. Cardiol. Clin. 2014, 32, 485–494. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  6. Lip, G.Y. The ABC pathway: An integrated approach to improve AF management. Nat. Rev. Cardiol. 2017, 14, 627–628. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  7. Chao, T.F.; Joung, B.; Takahashi, Y.; Lim, T.W.; Choi, E.-K.; Chan, Y.-H.; Guo, Y.; Sriratanasathavorn, C.; Oh, S.; Okumura, K.; et al. 2021 Focused Update Consensus Guidelines of the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society on Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation: Executive Summary. Arthritis Res. Ther. 2022, 122, 20–47. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Fiuza-Luces, C.; Santos-Lozano, A.; Joyner, M.; Carrera-Bastos, P.; Picazo, O.; Zugaza, J.L.; Izquierdo, M.; Ruilope, L.M.; Lucia, A. Exercise benefits in cardiovascular disease: Beyond attenuation of traditional risk factors. Nat. Rev. Cardiol. 2018, 15, 731–743. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Myrstad, M.; Malmo, V.; Ulimoen, S.R.; Tveit, A.; Loennechen, J.P. Exercise in individuals with atrial fibrillation. Clin. Res. Cardiol. 2019, 108, 347–354. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Giacomantonio, N.B.; Bredin, S.S.; Foulds, H.J.; Warburton, D.E. A systematic review of the health benefits of exercise rehabilitation in persons living with atrial fibrillation. Can. J. Cardiol. 2013, 29, 483–491. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Hamazaki, N.; Kamiya, K.; Fukaya, H.; Nozaki, K.; Ichikawa, T.; Matsuzawa, R.; Yamashita, M.; Uchida, S.; Maekawa, E.; Meguro, K.; et al. Effect of atrial fibrillation on response to exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in older individuals with heart failure. Ann. Phys. Rehabil. Med. 2021, 64, 101466. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  12. Nurkkala, V.-M.; Kalermo, J.; Jarvilehto, T. Development of exergaming simulator for gym training, exercise testing and rehabilitation. J. Commun. Comput. 2014, 11, 403–411. [Google Scholar]
  13. Bond, S.; Laddu, D.R.; Ozemek, C.; Lavie, C.J.; Arena, R. Exergaming and virtual reality for health: Implications for cardiac rehabilitation. Curr. Probl. Cardiol. 2019, 46, 100472. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  14. Kappen, D.L.; Mirza-Babaei, P.; Nacke, L.E. Older adults’ physical activity and exergames: A systematic review. Int. J. Hum. Comput. Interact. 2019, 35, 140–167. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Blasco-Peris, C.; Fuertes-Kenneally, L.; Vetrovsky, T.; Sarabia, J.M.; Climent-Paya, V.; Manresa-Rocamora, A. Effects of exergaming in patients with cardiovascular disease compared to conventional cardiac rehabilitation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 3492. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Dawes, T.J.; Corden, B.; Cotter, S.; de Marvao, A.; Walsh, R.; Ware, J.S.; Cook, S.A.; O’regan, D.P. Moderate physical activity in healthy adults is associated with cardiac remodeling. Circ. Cardiovasc. Imaging 2016, 9, e004712. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  17. Morseth, B.; Løchen, M.L.; Ariansen, I.; Myrstad, M.; Thelle, D.S. The ambiguity of physical activity, exercise and atrial fibrillation. Eur. J. Prev. Cardiol. 2018, 25, 624–636. [Google Scholar]
  18. Everett, B.M.; Conen, D.; Buring, J.E.; Moorthy, M.; Lee, I.; Albert, C.M. Physical activity and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation in women. Circ. Cardiovasc. Qual. Outcomes 2011, 4, 321–327. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Proietti, R.; Birnie, D.; Ziegler, P.D.; Wells, G.A.; Verma, A. Postablation Atrial Fibrillation Burden and Patient Activity Level: Insights from the DISCERN AF Study. J. Am. Heart Assoc. 2018, 7, e010256. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Bittman, J.; Thomson, C.J.; Lyall, L.A.; Alexis, S.L.; Lyall, E.T.; Cannatella, S.L.; Ebtia, M.; Fritz, A.; Freedman, B.K.; Alizadeh-Pasdar, N.; et al. Effect of an Exercise and Nutrition Program on Quality of Life in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: The Atrial Fibrillation Lifestyle Project (ALP). CJC Open 2022, 4, 685–694. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Joensen, A.M.; Dinesen, P.; Svendsen, L.; Hoejbjerg, T.; Fjerbaek, A.; Andreasen, J.; Sottrup, M.; Lundbye-Christensen, S.; Vadmann, H.; Riahi, S. Effect of patient education and physical training on quality of life and physical exercise capacity in patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation: A randomized study. J. Rehabil. Med. 2019, 51, 442–450. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Osbak, P.; Mourier, M.; Henriksen, J.; Kofoed, K.; Jensen, G. Effect of physical exercise training on muscle strength and body composition, and their association with functional capacity and quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation: A randomized controlled trial. J. Rehabil. Med. 2012, 44, 975–979. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  23. Hegbom, F.; Stavem, K.; Sire, S.; Heldal, M.; Orning, O.M.; Gjesdal, K. Effects of short-term exercise training on symptoms and quality of life in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. Int. J. Cardiol. 2007, 116, 86–92. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  24. Buckley, B.J.R.; Harrison, S.L.; Fazio-Eynullayeva, E.; Underhill, P.; Lane, D.A.; Thijssen, D.H.J.; Lip, G.Y.H. Exercise-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation and All-Cause Mortality among Patients with Atrial Fibrillation. J. Am. Heart Assoc. 2021, 10, e020804. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  25. Buckley, B.J.; Lip, G.Y.; Thijssen, D.H. The counterintuitive role of exercise in the prevention and cause of atrial fibrillation. Am. J. Physiol. Circ. Physiol. 2020, 319, H1051–H1058. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  26. Flanagan, H.; Cooper, R.; George, K.P.; Augustine, D.X.; Malhotra, A.; Paton, M.F.; Robinson, S.; Oxborough, D. The athlete’s heart: Insights from echocardiography. Echo Res. Pract. 2023, 10, 15. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  27. Mascia, G.; Olivotto, I.; Brugada, J.; Arbelo, E.; Di Donna, P.; Della Bona, R.; Canepa, M.; Porto, I. Sport practice in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Running to stand still? Int. J. Cardiol. 2021, 345, 77–82. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Martinez, M.W.; Kim, J.H.; Shah, A.B.; Phelan, D.; Emery, M.S.; Wasfy, M.M.; Fernandez, A.B.; Bunch, T.J.; Dean, P.; Danielian, A.; et al. Exercise-Induced Cardiovascular Adaptations and Approach to Exercise and Cardiovascular Disease: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2021, 78, 1453–1470. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Newman, W.; Parry-Williams, G.; Wiles, J.; Edwards, J.; Hulbert, S.; Kipourou, K.; Papadakis, M.; Sharma, R.; O’Driscoll, J. Risk of atrial fibrillation in athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Br. J. Sports Med. 2021, 55, 1233–1238. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Elliott, A.D.; Linz, D.; Mishima, R.; Kadhim, K.; Gallagher, C.; E Middeldorp, M.; Verdicchio, C.V.; Hendriks, J.M.L.; Lau, D.H.; La Gerche, A.; et al. Association between physical activity and risk of incident arrhythmias in 402,406 individuals: Evidence from the UK Biobank cohort. Eur. Heart J. 2020, 41, 1479–1486. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  31. Wilhelm, M.; Roten, L.; Tanner, H.; Wilhelm, I.; Schmid, J.-P.; Saner, H. Atrial remodeling, autonomic tone, and lifetime training hours in nonelite athletes. Am. J. Cardiol. 2011, 108, 580–585. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  32. Wilhelm, M.; Roten, L.; Tanner, H.; Schmid, J.-P.; Wilhelm, I.; Saner, H. Long-term cardiac remodeling and arrhythmias in nonelite marathon runners. Am. J. Cardiol. 2012, 110, 129–135. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  33. Wilhelm, M.; Nuoffer, J.-M.; Schmid, J.-P.; Wilhelm, I.; Saner, H. Comparison of pro-atrial natriuretic peptide and atrial remodeling in marathon versus non-marathon runners. Am. J. Cardiol. 2012, 109, 1060–1065. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  34. Swanson, D.R. Atrial fibrillation in athletes: Implicit literature-based connections suggest that overtraining and subsequent inflammation may be a contributory mechanism. Med. Hypotheses 2006, 66, 1085–1092. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Sanchis, L.; La Garza, M.S.-D.; Bijnens, B.; Giraldeau, G.; Grazioli, G.; Marin, J.; Gabrielli, L.; Montserrat, S.; Sitges, M. Gender influence on the adaptation of atrial performance to training. Eur. J. Sport Sci. 2017, 17, 720–726. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  36. Bayles, M.P. ACSM’s Exercise Testing and Prescription; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: Philadelphia, PA, USA, 2023. [Google Scholar]
  37. Proietti, M.; Laroche, C.; Nieuwlaat, R.; Crijns, H.J.; Maggioni, A.P.; Lane, D.A.; Boriani, G.; Lip, G.Y. Increased burden of comorbidities and risk of cardiovascular death in atrial fibrillation patients in Europe over ten years: A comparison between EORP-AF pilot and EHS-AF registries. Eur. J. Intern. Med. 2018, 55, 28–34. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Frost, L.; Vestergaard, P.; Mosekilde, L. Hyperthyroidism and risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter: A population-based study. Arch. Intern. Med. 2004, 164, 1675–1678. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Vlachos, K.; Mascia, G.; Martin, C.A.; Bazoukis, G.; Frontera, A.; Cheniti, G.; Letsas, K.P.; Efremidis, M.; Georgopoulos, S.; Gkalapis, C.; et al. Atrial fibrillation in Brugada syndrome: Current perspectives. J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. 2020, 31, 975–984. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  40. Platonov, P.G.; McNitt, S.; Polonsky, B.; Rosero, S.Z.; Zareba, W. Atrial fibrillation in long QT syndrome by genotype. Circ. Arrhythmia Electrophysiol. 2019, 12, e007213. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  41. Leo, D.G.; Ozdemir, H.; Lane, D.A.; Lip, G.Y.H.; Keller, S.S.; Proietti, R. At the heart of the matter: How mental stress and negative emotions affect atrial fibrillation. Front. Cardiovasc. Med. 2023, 10, 1171647. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  42. Severino, P.; Mariani, M.V.; Maraone, A.; Piro, A.; Ceccacci, A.; Tarsitani, L.; Maestrini, V.; Mancone, M.; Lavalle, C.; Pasquini, M.; et al. Triggers for atrial fibrillation: The role of anxiety. Cardiol. Res. Pract. 2019, 2019, 1208505. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  43. Erhardt, A.; Ising, M.; Unschuld, P.G.; Kern, N.; Lucae, S.; Pütz, B.; Uhr, M.; Binder, E.B.; Holsboer, F.; E Keck, M. Regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical system in patients with panic disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology 2006, 31, 2515–2522. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  44. Reeves, J.W.; Fisher, A.J.; Newman, M.G.; Granger, D.A. Sympathetic and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal asymmetry in generalized anxiety disorder. Psychophysiology 2016, 53, 951–957. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  45. Middeldorp, M.E.; Ariyaratnam, J.; Lau, D.; Sanders, P. Lifestyle modifications for treatment of atrial fibrillation. Heart 2020, 106, 325–332. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  46. Chung, M.K.; Eckhardt, L.L.; Chen, L.Y.; Ahmed, H.M.; Gopinathannair, R.; Joglar, J.A.; Noseworthy, P.A.; Pack, Q.R.; Sanders, P.; Trulock, K.M.; et al. Lifestyle and risk factor modification for reduction of atrial fibrillation: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2020, 141, E750–E772. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  47. Romiti, G.F.; Pastori, D.; Rivera-Caravaca, J.M.; Ding, W.Y.; Gue, Y.X.; Menichelli, D.; Gumprecht, J.; Koziel, M.; Yang, P.-S.; Guo, Y.; et al. Adherence to the ‘atrial fibrillation better care’ pathway in patients with atrial fibrillation: Impact on clinical outcomes—A systematic review and meta-analysis of 285,000 patients. Thromb. Haemost. 2022, 122, 406–414. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  48. Nelson, G.A.; McNaught-Mitchell, M.P.; Roopchand-Martin, S.D.; Gordon, C.M. Wii Fit plus exercise training for persons with cardiac disease. Cardiopulm. Phys. Ther. J. 2015, 26, 73–77. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  49. Klompstra, L.; Jaarsma, T.; Strömberg, A. Exergaming to increase the exercise capacity and daily physical activity in heart failure patients: A pilot study. BMC Geriatr. 2014, 14, 119. [Google Scholar]
  50. García-Bravo, S.; Cano-De-La-Cuerda, R.; Domínguez-Paniagua, J.; Campuzano-Ruiz, R.; Barreñada-Copete, E.; López-Navas, M.J.; Araujo-Narváez, A.; García-Bravo, C.; Florez-Garcia, M.; Botas-Rodríguez, J.; et al. Effects of Virtual Reality on Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs for Ischemic Heart Disease: A Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 8472. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  51. Vieira, Á.; Melo, C.; Machado, J.; Gabriel, J. Virtual reality exercise on a home-based phase III cardiac rehabilitation program, effect on executive function, quality of life and depression, anxiety and stress: A randomized controlled trial. Disabil. Rehabil. Assist. Technol. 2018, 13, 112–123. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  52. Jaarsma, T.; Klompstra, L.; Ben Gal, T.; Ben Avraham, B.; Boyne, J.; Bäck, M.; Chialà, O.; Dickstein, K.; Evangelista, L.; Hagenow, A.; et al. Effects of exergaming on exercise capacity in patients with heart failure: Results of an international multicentre randomized controlled trial. Eur. J. Heart Fail. 2021, 23, 114–124. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  53. Ambrosino, P.; Fuschillo, S.; Papa, A.; Di Minno, M.N.D.; Maniscalco, M. Exergaming as a supportive tool for home-based rehabilitation in the COVID-19 pandemic era. Games Health J. 2020, 9, 311–313. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  54. Shields, G.E.; Wells, A.; Doherty, P.; Heagerty, A.; Buck, D.; Davies, L.M. Cost-effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation: A systematic review. Heart 2018, 104, 1403–1410. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  55. Chindhy, S.; Taub, P.R.; Lavie, C.J.; Shen, J. Current challenges in cardiac rehabilitation: Strategies to overcome social factors and attendance barriers. Expert Rev. Cardiovasc. Ther. 2020, 18, 777–789. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  56. Stefanakis, M.; Batalik, L.; Antoniou, V.; Pepera, G. Safety of home-based cardiac rehabilitation: A systematic review. Heart Lung 2022, 55, 117–126. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  57. Oh, Y.; Yang, S. Defining exergames & exergaming. Proc. Meaningful Play. 2010, 2010, 21–23. [Google Scholar]
  58. Beach, C.; Montoye, A.H.; Steeves, J.A. Differences in physical activity during walking and two Pokémon Go playing Styles. Games Health J. 2021, 10, 130–138. [Google Scholar]
  59. Shameli, A.; Althoff, T.; Saberi, A.; Leskovec, J. How gamification affects physical activity: Large-scale analysis of walking challenges in a mobile application. In Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on World Wide Web Companion, Perth, Australia, 3–7 April 2017. [Google Scholar]
  60. Agmon, M.; Perry, C.K.; Phelan, E.; Demiris, G.; Nguyen, H.Q. A pilot study of Wii Fit exergames to improve balance in older adults. J. Geriatr. Phys. Ther. 2011, 34, 161–167. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  61. Höchsmann, C.; Walz, S.P.; Schäfer, J.; Holopainen, J.; Hanssen, H.; Schmidt-Trucksäss, A. Mobile Exergaming for Health—Effects of a serious game application for smartphones on physical activity and exercise adherence in type 2 diabetes mellitus—study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2017, 18, 103. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  62. Donath, L.; Rössler, R.; Faude, O. Effects of virtual reality training (exergaming) compared to alternative exercise training and passive control on standing balance and functional mobility in healthy community-dwelling seniors: A meta-analytical review. Sports Med. 2016, 46, 1293–1309. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  63. Sato, K.; Kuroki, K.; Saiki, S.; Nagatomi, R. Improving walking, muscle strength, and balance in the elderly with an exergame using Kinect: A randomized controlled trial. Games Health J. 2015, 4, 161–167. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  64. Bermúdez i Badia, S.; Avelino, J.; Bernardino, A.; Cameirao, M.S.; Munoz, J.E.; Cardoso, H.; Gonccalves, A.; Paulino, T.; Ribeiro, R.; Simao, H.; et al. Development and Validation of a Mixed Reality Exergaming Platform for Fitness Training of Older Adults, in Everyday Virtual and Augmented Reality; Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany, 2023; pp. 119–145. [Google Scholar]
  65. Taylor, J.L.; Bonikowske, A.R.; Olson, T.P. Optimizing outcomes in cardiac rehabilitation: The importance of exercise intensity. Front. Cardiovasc. Med. 2021, 8, 734278. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
  66. Vanhees, L.; Hansen, D. Modalities of Exercise Training in Cardiac Rehabilitation. In Textbook of Sports and Exercise Cardiology; Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany, 2020; pp. 881–896. [Google Scholar]
  67. Cacciata, M.C.; Stromberg, A.; Klompstra, L.; Jaarsma, T.; Kuriakose, M.; Lee, J.-A.; Lombardo, D.; Evangelista, L.S. Facilitators and challenges to exergaming: Perspectives of patients with heart failure. J. Cardiovasc. Nurs. 2022, 37, 281. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  68. Liguori, G.; American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: Philadelphia, PA, USA, 2020. [Google Scholar]
  69. Majumder, S.; Mondal, T.; Deen, M.J. Wearable sensors for remote health monitoring. Sensors 2017, 17, 130. [Google Scholar]
  70. Kelly, J.T.; Campbell, K.L.; Gong, E.; Scuffham, P. The Internet of Things: Impact and implications for health care delivery. J. Med. Internet Res. 2020, 22, e20135. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  71. Epstein, E.; Patel, N.; Maysent, K.; Taub, P.R. Cardiac rehab in the COVID era and beyond: mHealth and other novel opportunities. Curr. Cardiol. Rep. 2021, 23, 42. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Figure 1. Positive and negative effects of exercise at different intensities on the heart.
Figure 1. Positive and negative effects of exercise at different intensities on the heart.
Medicina 60 00172 g001
Table 1. Summary of characteristics of the included studies related to exercise interventions for atrial fibrillation diseases (n = 5).
Table 1. Summary of characteristics of the included studies related to exercise interventions for atrial fibrillation diseases (n = 5).
Study ID, Year, CountryDesign, Study PopulationInterventionOutcome(s)ResultsConclusion
[20] Bittman, 2022, CanadaRCT;
Non-permanent, nonvalvular AF;
Intervention n = 34 (mean age 63.7 ± 8.6 years, female n = 11);
Control n = 38 (mean age 61.0 ± 9.7 years, female n = 17).
Nutritional plan and exercise program with 200 min/week (month 1 to 6) plus 2 weekly sessions of supervised cardiac rehabilitation (month 4 to 6)QoL (SF-36)QoL: [Intervention (I), Control (C), mean ± SD—vitality I: 13.2 ± 20.4; C: 1.0 ± 14.9, p < 0.001; social functioning I: 14.7 ± 24.1; C: 2.4 ± 21.2, p = 0.018; emotional well-being I: 5.5 ± 14.1; C: −1.0 ± 13.3, p = 0.017; and general health perceptions I: 8.1 ± 12.3; C: 2.7 ± 13.3, p = 0.009].(+) exercise training improved QoL in AF patients.
[23] Hegbom, 2007, NorwayRCT;
Chronic AF;
Intervention n = 13 (mean age 62 ± 7, female n = 13);
Control n = 15 (mean age 65 ± 7, female n = 13).
24 training sessions (1.25 h × 3 days/week) of aerobic exercise and muscular strengtheningQoL (SF-36); exercise capacity (Borg Scale 17)QoL: [mean score ± SD, physical functioning pre 82 ± 14 vs. 86 ± 10 post, p = 0.01; bodily pain pre 82 ± 17 vs. post 92 ± 14, p = 0.01; vitality pre 61 ± 14 vs. 68 ± 13 post, p = 0.01; and role-emotional pre 85 ± 28 vs. post 94 ± 20, p = 0.01].
Exercise capacity: increased by 41% (±36%)
(+) exercise training improved QoL and exercise capacity in AF patients.
[21] Joensen, 2019, DenmarkRCT;
Paroxysmal or persistent AF;
Intervention n = 28 (mean age 62.2 ± 10.0, female n = 11);
Control n = 24 (mean age 60.2 ± 8.9, female n = 7).
6-month exercise intervention consisting of two weekly sessions of supervised cardiac rehabilitation (with at least 30 min of aerobic exercise at ≥70% of maximum exercise capacity).QoL (AF-QoL-18; exercise capacity (ergometer cycle test)QoL: [Intervention (I), Comparator (C), mean ± SD—I: baseline 48.4 ± 22.8 to 6 months 68.0 ± 15.2, vs. C: baseline 51.6 ± 22.3 to 6 months 59.2 ± 27.3, p = 0.031].
Exercise capacity: [Intervention: mean ± SD, 176 ± 48 pre vs. 190 ± 55 at 6 months, p = 0.026]
(+) exercise training improved QoL and exercise capacity in AF patients.
[22] Osbak, 2012, DenmarkRCT;
Permanent AF;
Intervention n = 24 (mean age 69.5 7.3, female n = 6);
Control n = 23 (mean age 70.9± 8.3, female n = 6).
12-week exercise intervention (1 h/3 times per week of supervised training)QoL (SF-36; MLHF-Q); exercise capacity (6MWT)QoL: [mean score ± SD, SF-36: physical functioning pre 82 ± 14 vs. 86 ± 10 post, p = 0.01; bodily pain pre 82 ± 17 vs. post 92 ± 14, p = 0.01; vitality pre 61 ± 14 vs. 68 ± 13 post, p = 0.01; role-emotional pre 85 ± 28 vs. post 94 ± 20, p = 0.01; and MLHF-Q: p = 0.03].
Exercise capacity: [mean score(meters), SD, Intervention (504.4 ± 85.1 pre vs. 569.9 ± 92.6 post) vs. control (453.1 ± 100.1 pre vs. 454.1 ± 95.7 post), p = 0.001].
intervention decreased patients’ resting pulse [mean ± SD: 94.8 ± 22.4 to 86.3 ± 22.5 beats/min, p = 0.049].
(+) exercise training improved QoL and exercise capacity and decreased resting heart rate in AF patients.
[24] Buckley, 2021, UKRetrospective study on international databaseN/AMortalityMortality: 68% lower odds of all-cause mortality [odds ratio: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.29–0.35].(+) exercise training reduced the mortality rate in AF patients.
6 MWT = 6 min walking test; AF = atrial fibrillation; AF-QoL-18 = health-related quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation; CI = confidence interval; N/A = not applicable; QoL = quality of life; RCT = randomised controlled trial; SD = standard deviation; SF-36 = Short Form 36-item; MLHF-Q = Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. + indicates the positive effect of the intervention.
Table 2. Summary of characteristics of the included studies related to exergame interventions for cardiovascular diseases (n = 5).
Table 2. Summary of characteristics of the included studies related to exergame interventions for cardiovascular diseases (n = 5).
Study ID, Year, CountryDesign, Study PopulationInterventionOutcome(s)ResultsConclusion
[50] Garcia-Bravo, 2020, SpainRCT;
Ischemic heart disease;
Intervention n = 10 (mean age 48.7 ± 6.66, gender not reported);
Control n = 10 (mean age 53.7 ± 10.3, gender not reported).
8 weeks of exergame consisting of 2 × 60 min/week aerobic sessions using the Microsoft XBOX with the Kinect sensorExercise capacity (6MWT); QoL (SF-36); depression level (Beck-II depression inventory) Exercise capacity: [mean ± SD, distance: 457.80 ± 132.00 pre vs. 513.00 ± 117.00 post, p = 0.005.
Quality of life and level of depression:
SF-36 general health: p = 0.049, SF-36 social function: p = 0.010, Beck-II depression inventory: p = 0.012].
(+) exergame improved exercise capacity and quality of life and reduced the level of depression.
[52] Jaarsma, 2021, Sweden, Italy, Israel, the Netherlands, Germany and the USAInternational Multicentre RCT;
Heart failure;
Intervention n = 305 (mean age 66 ± 12, female n = 85);
Control n = 300 (mean age 67 ± 11, female n = 90).
12-month, 5 × 30 min weekly sessions with the Nintendo Wii Sports softwareExercise capacity (6MWT); self-reported PA level; patients outcome measuresNo statistically significant differences between groups [p > 0.05].(=) exergame did not show statistically significant effects compared to traditional exercise.
[49] Klompstra, 2014, SwedenPilot study;
Heart Failure;
n = 32 (mean age 63 ± 14, female n = 10);
12-week, 20 min × day session using the Nintendo Wii SportsExercise capacity (6MWT)Exercise capacity: [mean ± SD: 501 ± 95 m pre vs. 521 ± 101 m post, p < 0.05].(+) exergame improved exercise capacity.
[48] Nelson, 2014, JamaicaSingle group pre-post test;
Cardiac disease;
n = 28 (mean age 62.1 ± 11.4, female n = 15).
6 weeks consisting of 3 × 40 min/week training sessions with the Nintendo Wii Fit Plus softwareExercise capacity (6MWT)Exercise capacity: [mean ± SD, from 461.93 m (SD 5 105.87) pre to 498.22 m (SD 5 132.95) post, p < 0.001].(+) exergame improved exercise capacity.
[51] Vieira, 2018, Portugal RCT;
Patients who completed phase II cardiac rehab;
Exergame n = 11 (mean age 55 9.0, gender not reported);
Booklet group n = 11 (mean age 59 11.3, gender not reported);
Control group n = 11 (mean age 59 5.8, gender not reported).
6-month, 3 × 60–90 min weekly session using the Microsoft XBOX KinectQoL (MacNew questionnaire); depression, anxiety, and
stress (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 21)
No statistically significant differences between groups [p > 0.05](=) exergame did not show statistically significant effects compared to control (traditional exercise; usual care).
6 MWT = 6 min walking test; PA = physical activity; QoL = quality of life; RCT = randomised controlled trial; SD = standard deviation; SF-36 = short form 36-item. + indicate positive effect of the intervention, and no difference (=) between the intervention and the control group.
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Leo, D.G.; Proietti, R. A New Player in the Game: Can Exergame Be of Support in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation? Medicina 2024, 60, 172. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60010172

AMA Style

Leo DG, Proietti R. A New Player in the Game: Can Exergame Be of Support in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation? Medicina. 2024; 60(1):172. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60010172

Chicago/Turabian Style

Leo, Donato Giuseppe, and Riccardo Proietti. 2024. "A New Player in the Game: Can Exergame Be of Support in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation?" Medicina 60, no. 1: 172. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60010172

APA Style

Leo, D. G., & Proietti, R. (2024). A New Player in the Game: Can Exergame Be of Support in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation? Medicina, 60(1), 172. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60010172

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop