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Young elite athletes at no greater risk for AF than general population
The incidence of atrial fibrillation is low in young elite athletes, but certain factors need to be monitored, according to a study published in JAMA Cardiology.
“In contrast with previous research on more veteran athletes, particularly endurance athletes, in whom AF might occur more frequently than in the age-matched general population, the incidence of AF is low among young elite athletes, even when considering only those engaging in endurance sports,” Araceli Boraita, MD, PhD, of the department of cardiology at the Sports Medicine Center, Spanish Sports Health Protection Agency, in Madrid, and colleagues wrote. “However, potential contributors, particularly atrial remodeling, need to be monitored.”
To determine the frequency of AF and its association with potential risk factors, researchers conducted a retrospective observational cohort study of 6,813 Spanish athletes who had been referred to the Sports Medicine Center for one or more cardiac evaluations between 1997 and 2017 (35% women; mean age, 22 years; mean time of competition, 8 years; 28% participated in endurance sports).
To diagnose AF, participants were subjected to an ECG and/or 24-hour Holter monitoring.
Researchers then performed a cross-sectional comparison of the characteristics of athletes with and without reported AF.
Within the 20-year study period, 21 of 6,813 athletes had AF (paroxysmal, 18; persistent, 1; long-standing persistent, 2).
After conducting multivariate analysis, researchers found that higher AF risk was associated with increasing age (OR = 1.07; 95% CI, 1-1.14), years of competition (OR = 1.14; 95% CI, 1.07-1.22) and left atrial anteroposterior diameter (OR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.1-1.32).
“Future research might also determine the potential long-term consequences of AF occurrence in young athletes,” the researchers wrote. – by Melissa J. Webb
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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Boraita A, et al. JAMA Cardiol. 2018;doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2018.3482.