Why the study?
Do the structural and functional mechanisms of atrial fibrillation differ between athletes and non-athletes?
Do the structural and functional mechanisms of atrial fibrillation differ between athletes and non-athletes?
Atrial fibrillation in athletes appears to be driven by an atrial myopathy related to exercise-induced stretch, contrasting with the diastolic dysfunction typically seen in non-athletes.
Highlights distinct AF mechanisms by athletic status; extends understanding of athlete-specific remodeling but requires prospective validation.
Functional associations differed between athletes and non-athletes with AF, suggesting different pathophysiological mechanisms. Diastolic dysfunction and reduced strain defined non-athletes with AF. Athletes had low atrial strain and those with AF had enlarged LA volumes and reduced atrial emptying, but preserved LV diastolic parameters. Thus, AF in athletes may be triggered by an atrial myopathy from exercise-induced haemodynamic stretch consequent to increased cardiac output.
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Trivedi et al. (2020) studied this question.
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