title: Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter in athletes.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice, with an estimated prevalence of 0.4% to 1% in the general population, increasing with age to 8% in those above 80 years. The recognised risk factors for developing AF include age, structural heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus or hyperthyroidism. However, the mechanisms underlying the initiation of AF in patients below 60 years of age, in whom no cardiovascular disease or any other known causal factor is present, remain to be clarified. This condition, termed as lone AF, may be responsible for as many as 30% of patients with paroxysmal AF seeking medical attention. Recent studies suggest that long-term endurance exercise may increase the incidence of AF and atrial flutter (AFl) in this population. This review article is intended to analyse the prevalence of AF and AFl, the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the association between endurance sport practice and AF or AFl and the recommended therapeutic options in endurance athletes.
authors.affiliation: Arrhythmia Unit, Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Navarra, Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Naiara
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brugada
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sitges
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mont
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056352:Athletes; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016275:Atrial Function / Q000502:physiology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D059267:Cardiomegaly, Exercise-Induced / Q000502:physiology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants