Efficacy of radiofrequency catheter ablation in athletes with atrial fibrillation
Abstract
AIMS: Endurance sports activities have been associated with the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) by means of radiofrequency catheter ablation has been established as an effective treatment for AF. The aim of the present study was to analyse the efficacy of AF ablation in athletes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We compared procedural outcome and median term follow-up in 94 consecutive athletes (>3 h of sports/week for ≥ 10 years or ≥ 1500 h lifetime) who underwent PVI (94% men, 51 ± 8 years, 87% paroxysmal AF, left atrial (LA) diameter 40 ± 8 mm, mean follow-up 41 months), and 41 contemporary controls. Sixty-three per cent of athletes performed endurance sports (running, cycling, swimming, and rowing). Documented focal induction of AF and failed treatment with ≥ 1 anti-arrhythmic drug were pre-requisites for selection of ablation treatment. Patients with long-standing persistent or permanent AF or an LA diameter ≥ 55 mm were not considered for ablation. Median lifetime cumulative hours of sports was 8638 (4175-13 688) in athletes vs. 450 (280-600) in controls (P < 0.001). Other baseline characteristics except for gender (94 vs. 66% men, respectively, P < 0.001) were comparable between both groups, as was the total number of ablation procedures per patient (1.2 ± 0.5, P = 0.62). Survival analysis showed similar AF recurrence rate after a first ablation for controls and endurance athletes, though non-endurance athletes had a significantly higher AF recurrence rate (48 vs. 46 vs. 34% freedom from AF at 3 year follow-up after a single ablation, P= 0.04). Final outcome after all ablations was similar (87 vs. 84 vs. 85% freedom from AF at 3-year follow-up, P = 0.88). No other independent predictor for AF recurrence was identified. CONCLUSION: In patients with documented focal induction of non-permanent AF and absence of structural heart disease, PVI is as effective in endurance athletes as in other patients.
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Catheter ablation for AF probably has similar outcomes in athletes as in non-athletes.
“Catheter ablation for AF probably has similar outcomes in athletes as in non-athletes, 908, 909”
From 2016 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS (2016) · cites this paper as [909]
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- Authors
- Koopman, P., Nuyens, D., Garweg, C., La Gerche, A., De Buck, S., Van Casteren, L., Alzand, B., Willems, R., & Heidbuchel, H.
- Affiliations
- Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven (BE)
- Venue
- Europace
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2011-06-05
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1386-1393
- ISSN
- 1099-5129 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-2092
- OpenAlex
- W2010138555
- Cited by
- 102
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 3.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- EP Europace (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Atrial Fibrillation Management and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Arrhythmias and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Effects of Exercise
- Keywords
- atrial fibrillation, radiofrequency catheter ablation, pulmonary vein isolation, endurance athletes, sports participation, atrial fibrillation recurrence, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, focal atrial fibrillation, left atrial diameter
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Atrial Fibrillation, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Physical Endurance, Pulmonary Veins, Survival Rate, Case-Control Studies, Treatment Outcome, Catheter Ablation, Athletes
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