Key result
The abstract outlines the methodology for a systematic review and meta-analysis on the association between physical activity and atrial fibrillation, but reports no results.
Why the study?
Previous research suggesting high physical activity or endurance sports increase AF risk had potential confounders, including non-validated assessment methods and heterogeneous cohorts.
Meta-Analysis
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
No results reported; leaves the physical activity–AF association unresolved for clinicians and researchers.
Engaging in very high physical activity (PA) levels or strenuous endurance sports might increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). There are, however, potential confounders in previous research, such as the use of unclear—or non-validated—methods for AF/PA assessment or the inclusion of heterogeneous cohorts (e.g. with both recreational and competitive athletes).1 In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we studied the association of PA/sports with AF using strict study methodological criteria. Two researchers (G.S.L. and J.S.M.) independently performed a systematic search without filters for relevant English-written studies––from inception to 2nd August 2020––in PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane Plus using the following search strategy: (atrial fibrillation OR sick sinus syndrome OR arrhythm*) AND (physical activity OR training OR exercise OR athlet* OR sport*). The search was supplemented with a manual review of reference lists from relevant publications. Gray literature (abstracts, conference proceedings) and reviews were excluded. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they analysed AF incidence/prevalence among individuals with different PA levels or participating––or not––in sports. Disagreements were resolved through discussion with a third researcher (A.S.L.).
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Valenzuela et al. (2021) conducted a meta-analysis in Atrial fibrillation. Physical activity and sports vs. Different physical activity levels or no sports participation was evaluated on Atrial fibrillation incidence or prevalence. The abstract outlines the methodology for a systematic review and meta-analysis on the association between physical activity and atrial fibrillation, but reports no results.
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