Sport practice and the risk of lone atrial fibrillation: a case-control study
Abstract
Background Lone atrial fibrillation (LAF) is characterized by the presence of atrial fibrillation in the absence of structural heart disease or other identifiable cause of arrhythmia. In a recent study, we reported sport practice to be more frequent in LAF patients than in the general population. The aim of the study was to determine the association between sport practice and the prevalence of LAF in men.Methods An age-matched case-control study was designed. Cases were identified from consecutive patients who attended an outpatient clinic; 51 men with LAF were included, 20 of them with vagal characteristics. Controls were selected from the general population (n=109). A questionnaire to assess former and current sport practice and the number of lifetime hours of sport practice was administered. Conditional logistic regression was used for statistical analysis.Results The proportion of patients with LAF who reported current sport practice (31%) was higher than that observed in controls (14%). In the logistic regression, current practice of sport was associated with a higher prevalence of LAF (OR=3.13; 95% CI: 1.39-7.05). The practice of more than 1500 lifetime hours of sport appears to be the threshold for the observed association. Current practice of sport with a lifetime practice greater than 1500 h was associated with LAF (OR=2.87; 95% CI: 1.20-6.91).Conclusion In men, the combination of current and prolonged lifetime sport practice is associated with higher risk of LAF.
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Intensive sports practice, especially endurance sports (> 1500 h of endurance sports practice), increases the risk of AF later in life.
“Intensive sports practice, especially endurance sports (> 1500 h of endurance sports practice), 899 increases the risk of AF later in life, [900][901][902]”
From 2016 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS (2016) · cites this paper as [899]
Only vigorous exertion and endurance training have been evaluated for atrial fibrillation risk, and largely only in retrospective case-control studies and case series of younger athletes and middle-aged adults.
“However, only vigorous exertion and endurance training have been evaluated, and largely only in retrospective case-control studies and case series of younger athletes and middle-aged adults.5–11”
From Physical Activity and Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study (2008) · cites this paper as [10]
Vigorous exertion and endurance training have been reported to increase atrial fibrillation risk.
“Vigorous exertion and endurance training have been reported to increase atrial fibrillation (AF).”
From Physical Activity and Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study (2008) · cites this paper as [10]
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- Authors
- Elosua, R., Arquer, A., Mont, L., Sambola, A., Molina, L., García-Morán, E., Brugada, J., & Marrugat, J.
- Affiliations
- Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (ES)
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ES)
- Venue
- International Journal of Cardiology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-04
- Volume
- 108
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 332-337
- ISSN
- 0167-5273 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2062319987
- Cited by
- 250
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 4.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Cardiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Atrial Fibrillation Management and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Effects of Exercise
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
- Keywords
- lone atrial fibrillation, sports practice, physical activity, prevalence, men, risk factors
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Atrial Fibrillation, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Activity, Sports, Case-Control Studies
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