There is evidence for a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in athletes engaged in long-term endurance sports training compared with the general population. Although atrial anatomic adaptations, alterations in autonomic nervous system, chronic systemic inflammation and fibrosis have been proposed as potential mechanisms, they remain speculative. Medical therapy with long-term antiarrhythmic agents or 'pill in the pocket' medications is hampered by limitations, such as sports eligibility and interference with exercise tolerance. AF ablation represents a valid therapeutic option with results similar to these achieved in other patients. Nevertheless, further clinical trials are needed to confirm whether endurance sport practice affects the maintenance of sinus rhythm following catheter ablation of AF.
Endurance Sport Activity and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation - Epidemiology, Proposed Mechanisms and Management / Fragakis, Nikolaos; Vicedomini, Gabriele; Pappone, Carlo. - In: ARRHYTHMIA & ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY REVIEW. - ISSN 2050-3369. - 3:1(2014), p. 15-9. [10.15420/aer.2011.3.1.15]
Endurance Sport Activity and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation - Epidemiology, Proposed Mechanisms and Management
Pappone, Carlo
2014-01-01
Abstract
There is evidence for a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in athletes engaged in long-term endurance sports training compared with the general population. Although atrial anatomic adaptations, alterations in autonomic nervous system, chronic systemic inflammation and fibrosis have been proposed as potential mechanisms, they remain speculative. Medical therapy with long-term antiarrhythmic agents or 'pill in the pocket' medications is hampered by limitations, such as sports eligibility and interference with exercise tolerance. AF ablation represents a valid therapeutic option with results similar to these achieved in other patients. Nevertheless, further clinical trials are needed to confirm whether endurance sport practice affects the maintenance of sinus rhythm following catheter ablation of AF.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.