Benefits and Perceived Risks of Physical Activity in Genetic Heart Disease

Abstract

While physical activity is beneficial across all age groups for both healthy people and those predisposed to chronic medical conditions such as coronary artery disease, the role of physical activity in the setting of patients with genetic heart diseases is more complex. A well described association between high intensity physical activity and sudden cardiac death (SCD) has been established and this has historically led to blanket sport and physical activity restrictions for any patient meeting diagnostic criteria for a genetic heart disease such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The increased understanding of the beneficial effects of even light intensity physical activity has called in to question whether we are doing enough to actively encourage patients to undertake sufficient light to moderate intensity physical activity. Negotiating a balance between avoiding high intensity physical activity and at the same time encouraging light to moderate intensity physical activity for the purpose of general health is a real challenge for clinicians when discussing lifestyle advice with patients. This PhD aimed to determine the physical activity behaviours and identify major barriers to physical activity in individuals with HCM, and develop an intervention to increase physical activity levels in those with this condition. Additionally, the physical activity behaviours of individuals with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator and attitudes towards physical activity were investigated. Finally, this PhD aimed to examine the incidence of sudden death events in a major Australian fun-run and discuss the potential for genetic heart diseases to be the underlying cause in these and other sudden death cases during physical activity.