Cardiac research reveals exercise benefits for AFib and ICD utility for scarred hearts

New clinical research presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Munich highlights two significant advancements in treating heart rhythm and function disorders.

The NEXAF trial, led by Dr. Bjarne Nes from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, demonstrated that a structured, one-year exercise program can reduce the time patients spend in atrial fibrillation (AFib) by nearly 50 percent. The study, which involved 295 participants in Norway, utilized a combination of supervised high-intensity sessions and remote guidance via smartwatches and mobile apps to transition patients to home-based exercise.

In a separate study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers found that implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) may benefit patients younger than 70 who possess both heart muscle scarring and mild-to-moderate heart dysfunction. This group currently falls outside standard treatment guidelines, which typically reserve ICDs for those with severely reduced heart function. The decade-long trial included sites across Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom.