Is the risk of atrial fibrillation higher in athletes than in the general population? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

The risk of AF is significantly higher in athletes compared with not athletes. However, this finding should be confirmed further in large-scale prospective longitudinal studies.

2016 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS

“…Aktywność fizyczna jest więc jedną z podstaw zapobiegania AF. Intensywne uprawianie sportu, zwłaszcza wytrzymałościowego (> 1500 h uprawiania sportów wytrzymałościowych) [899], zwiększa ryzyko AF w późniejszym okresie życia [900][901][902], co prawdopodobnie zależy od zmian napięcia układu autonomicznego, obciążenia objętościo-wego podczas wysiłku, przerostu przedsionka, a także jego powiększenia [903,904]. Prowadzi to do zależności między aktywnością fizyczną a zapadalnością na AF, która ma kształt krzywej U [214,898,902,905,906].…”

Intensive exercise and its effect on the heart: Is more always better?

“…Multiple studies indicate that the risk of AF in athletes is higher compared to non-athletes [5]. It is believed that chronic intensive physical training predisposes to this arrhythmia mostly due to the left atrial enlargement, increased left ventricular mass and increased vagal tone [6].…”

Pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation in endurance athletes: an overview of recent findings

“…[1][2][3] However, more strenuous endurance exercise (e.g., marathon running) appears to increase the risk of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in otherwise healthy young or middle-aged athletes with no cardiac structural abnormality. 4 Atrial fibrillation is a common heart arrhythmia usually associated with advanced age, hypertension, diabetes and obesity as well as with structural cardiac changes. It often complicates heart failure or coronary ischemic disease.…”