Overview

• The study analyzed data from over 420,000 participants in the UK Biobank, with walking speeds categorized as slow, average, or brisk.
• Brisk walkers had a 43% lower risk of heart rhythm abnormalities, including a 46% reduced risk of atrial fibrillation, compared to slow walkers.
• Walking at an average or brisk pace was linked to a 27% overall reduction in risk when accounting for time spent walking at these speeds.
• Metabolic and inflammatory factors, such as decreased obesity and improved blood sugar levels, were identified as key mechanisms behind the reduced risk.
• While the findings reinforce exercise recommendations, researchers caution that the observational nature of the study means causality cannot be definitively established.