RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Risk of atrial fibrillation in athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP 1233
OP 1238
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2021-103994
VO 55
IS 21
A1 William Newman
A1 Gemma Parry-Williams
A1 Jonathan Wiles
A1 Jamie Edwards
A1 Sabina Hulbert
A1 Konstantina Kipourou
A1 Michael Papadakis
A1 Rajan Sharma
A1 Jamie O'Driscoll
YR 2021
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/55/21/1233.abstract
AB Objective A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed on selected studies to investigate the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) among athletes compared with non-athlete controls.Design Meta-analysis with heterogeneity analysis and subsequent meta-regression to model covariates were performed. The mode of exercise (endurance and mixed sports) and age were the a priori determined covariates.Data sources PubMed, MEDLINE, Science Direct, SPORTDiscus and the Cochrane library were searched.Eligibility criteria Research articles published after 1990 and before 2 December 2020 were included if they reported the number of AF cases in athletes with non-athlete (physically active or inactive) control groups, were case–control or cohort studies and if data allowed calculation of OR.Results The risk of developing AF was significantly higher in athletes than in non-athlete controls (OR: 2.46; 95% CI 1.73 to 3.51; p<0.001, Z=4.97). Mode of exercise and risk of AF were moderately correlated (B=0.1259, p=0.0193), with mixed sport conferring a greater risk of AF than endurance sport (B=−0.5476, p=0.0204). Younger (<55 years) athletes were significantly more likely to develop AF compared with older (≥55 years) athletes (B=−0.02293, p<0.001).Conclusion Athletes have a significantly greater likelihood of developing AF compared with non-athlete controls, with those participating in mixed sport and younger athletes at the greatest risk. Future studies of AF prevalence in athletes according to specific exercise dose parameters, including training and competition history, may aid further in delineating those at risk.