Endurance exercise training is associated with an increased risk for the development of atrial fibrillation in athletes.
BACKGROUND: Endurance exercise training produces multiple cardiac adaptations including changes in electrophysiological function that may make endurance-trained athletes more vulnerable to atrial fibrillation (AF). This possible association is not recognised by many practising cardiologists and sports physicians. Consequently, we performed a literature review to examine the relationship between atrial fibrillation and endurance exercise training among athletes. PubMed was searched from January 1960 through December 2008 to identify articles examining the relationship between endurance exercise training and AF. RESULTS: Evidence suggests that athletes are at increased risk for development of AF. Possible factors increasing AF in this population include increased parasympathetic tone, reduced sympathetic tone, increased atrial size and increased inflammation. DISCUSSION: Suggested management of AF in athletes should follow similar principles to those used to manage AF in the general population.
Sorokin et al. (Mon,) conducted a review in Atrial fibrillation. Endurance exercise training was evaluated on Development of atrial fibrillation. Endurance exercise training is associated with an increased risk for the development of atrial fibrillation in athletes.