Key result
Intense long-term exercise is linked to higher AF prevalence in athletes, driven by atrial remodeling.
Why the study?
There is growing evidence that atrial fibrillation is prevalent in athletes and individuals engaging in intense long-term exercise, but the underlying causes and management remain to be reviewed.
May prompt AF monitoring in endurance athletes; leaves open safe exercise thresholds and causality in trials.
There is growing evidence that atrial fibrillation (AF) is prevalent in athletes and even in individuals participating in intense long term exercise at a non-competitive level. Several causes have been described for these phenomena including atrial remodeling, atrial fibrosis, inflammation, autonomic activation, body fluid changes and changes in blood volume and pressure. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms and management options of AF in regards to exercise.
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Turagam et al. (2014) conducted a review in Atrial fibrillation. Intense long term exercise was evaluated. Intense long-term exercise is associated with an increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation in athletes, driven by mechanisms such as atrial remodeling, fibrosis, and autonomic activation.
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